Online Video & Entertainment

With over 4.5 billion internet users worldwide, engaging in online videos and entertainment remains one of the most popular activities among users. Modern internet generations are increasingly attracted to visual content. Both long and short videos are getting millions, sometimes billions of views.

From the children’s song “Baby Shark”, to the reggaeton hit “Despacito”, and Korean singer Psy’s “Gangnam Style”, YouTube has seen several records in recent years. Apart from entertainment purposes, online videos offer tutorials, educational content, presentations, product reviews, and vlogs.

Market size

Billions of users

Weekly time spent with online video according to internet users worldwide as of August 2020, by age group

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Further details: Visit original statistic Weekly time spent with online video according to internet users worldwide as of August 2020, by age group

Although online video and entertainment are popular among all generations, young people tend to spend hours every week on viewing digital content. In 2023, global users spent over 28 hours engaging with the YouTube mobile app, with users in South Korea spending around 44.5 hours per month on the popular video platform via mobile. Leading platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo attract a growing number of users.

Online video in the United States
Mobile video worldwide
YouTube penetration in selected countries and territories

Market segments

Who watches what?

Most popular video content type worldwide in 4th quarter 2023, by weekly usage reach

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Further details: Visit original statistic Most popular video content type worldwide in 4th quarter 2023, by weekly usage reach

The content that viewers spent the most time on in 2023 were music videos. At the end of 2023, online videos reached 92 percent of the global digital population. Popular types of video content include news, sports, as well as watching gamers live stream their playing sessions.

Spending on select OTT video apps
Mobile video in the United States
Most used device for digital videos in the United States

Industry leaders

Platforms for all tastes

Worldwide advertising revenues of YouTube as of 1st quarter 2024 (in million U.S. dollars)

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Further details: Visit original statistic Worldwide advertising revenues of YouTube as of 1st quarter 2024 (in million U.S. dollars)

Leaders within the online video and entertainment industry include YouTube and TikTok., as well as over-the-top (OTT) video platform Netflix. YouTube’s audience can choose between a free version with advertisements and an ad-free premium subscription. By contrast, TikTok is focused on shorter videos and is free for the user. Advertising is the leading monetization method adopted by social video platform, while Netflix added ad-plans in 2023.

YouTube
Video streaming
TikTok

Industry trends

Children set the rules

Most popular children-themed YouTube channels as of March 2024, by number of subscribers (in millions)

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Further details: Visit original statistic Most popular children-themed YouTube channels as of March 2024, by number of subscribers (in millions)

Online video entertainment has become especially popular among children. Easily accessed and re-clicked, some YouTube videos have generated millions of views. ChuChu TV Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs has over 70 million subscribers and is by far, the most subscribed to YouTube channel for children. In the U.S. market, YouTube, Netflix, and Disney+ were the most popular video apps among kids.

Highest-earning YouTube creators
Leading video apps used by children
Most popular YouTube video

Special focus

The TikTok sensation

Number of TikTok downloads from 1st quarter 2018 to 4th quarter 2023 (in millions)

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Further details: Visit original statistic Number of TikTok downloads from 1st quarter 2018 to 4th quarter 2023 (in millions)

Another platform that is especially popular among teenagers and young adults is TikTok. The number of daily active users peaked in the first quarter of 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and people were spending more time at home, and in need of entertainment. With social media challenges, food content, dance videos, and influencer collaborations, TikTok attracts millions of users each day. Channels like Charli D’Amelio’s and Khaby Lame generate millions of views.

TikTok
Most followed TikTok creators
Global TikTok users in 2023

State of the industry

  • Online video market in China
  • Mobile video in the United States
  • Mobile video market in the United Kingdom (UK)
  • TikTok
  • TikTok in Latin America
  • YouTube
  • Online video content creators
  • Live streaming

Industry Definition

Statista offers a broad range of statistics on the online video and entertainment market. In this section, users can find key industry data on online video usage, ranging from online video penetration rates and the global number of digital video viewers to country-specific viewer demographics and information on the devices most commonly used to watch video content online.

The platform contains up-to-date information on the most popular online video platforms and video-on-demand (VoD) services worldwide. It provides subscriber counts for leading digital video channels and complements these figures with data on music streaming services and other relevant forms of audio entertainment.

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