Tag: Short-Form Video

Report: Record 12.2 Billion Video Minutes Streamed in 2020

Thanks to the pandemic and home confinement, 2020 was the year of the streaming video — with video uploads in both marketing and entertainment skyrocketing 80% from 2019, according to new data from Wistia. The research firm analyzed more than 44 million videos uploaded from 2016 to 2020 across more than 500,000 registered users.

Though video volume is up across the board, long-form videos stole the spotlight in 2020 from a growth perspective. The number of videos in the 30 minute to 60 minute category grew 140% compared with 2019, and 446% compared with 2016. Wistia contends longer-form content is becoming a more popular option for businesses as more companies embrace video series and other long-form video content to entice consumers and viewers.

Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!

Since 2016, time spent watching videos increased from 3.5 billion minutes to 12.2 billion minutes (or 23,211 years)  — a 249% increase. This increase is mostly attributed to a dramatic increase in video consumption at the onset of the pandemic. Indeed, the report found an 85% increase in minutes watched in 2020.

“There was once a time when video marketing may have fallen under the ‘nice-to-have’ category for most marketers,” read the report. “But if we look at the past five years as an indication of where we’re heading, video will continue to be considered an essential tool. The global pandemic only accelerated video content creation, so we predict that companies will continue to leverage these tools to grow their businesses.”

T-Mobile Offering Customers Free Quibi Subscription

T-Mobile is offering customers a free subscription to short-content streaming service Quibi via the promotion “Quibi on Us” when the service launches April 6.

Quibi, led by Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman, delivers content designed specifically for smartphones. All Quibi videos are 10 minutes or less and feature such stars as Jennifer Lopez, Chrissy Teigen, Liam Hemsworth and Reese Witherspoon.

Via the exclusive deal with Quibi, T-Mobile customers with two or more voice lines at standard rates on Magenta and ONE plans with taxes and fees included — along with discounted First Responder, Military and Magenta Plus 55 plans — or small business customers with up to 12 lines, can get Quibi (regularly $4.99) added to their plan at no extra cost. Customers can sign up between now and July 7 to get “Quibi on Us” by going to mytmobile.com or the T-Mobile app for iOS or Android beginning April 6. Until April 3, T-Mobile customers can sign up in the T-Mobile Tuesdays app or online for access to three bonus episodes of Jennifer Lopez’ “Thanks a Million” April 6.

After a full year of “Quibi on Us” and “Netflix on Us,” a promotion that offers SVOD service Netflix at no cost, Un-carrier customers can choose to continue with one or the other.

Follow us on Instagram

“T-Mobile customers have always been ahead of the curve — streaming more data, watching more mobile video — so when we first heard about Quibi, we knew our customers would love it,” said Mike Sievert, president and CEO of T-Mobile, in a statement. “And, with more of us staying home right now, Quibi’s never been more needed. It comes on the scene with a totally different experience, made for mobile, quick to watch and as entertaining as anything you’ve ever seen.”

Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!

“Quibi and T-Mobile are a perfect match — we’re both changing our industries by giving our customers what they want in truly unique and innovative ways,” said Meg Whitman, CEO of Quibi, in a statement. “And, since Quibi is built for an optimal mobile experience, we chose T-Mobile as our exclusive wireless launch partner. With the only nationwide 5G network, T-Mobile was the obvious choice for our customers.”

More than 85% of mobile video streamed on T-Mobile’s network is short-form content, according to the company.

Report: Long-Form Mobile Video Viewership Surges as iOS Use Declines

Consumption of short-form video on mobile and connected devices in the home is being challenged by long-form video, according to new data from the Q2 Brightcove Global Video Index, analyzing how viewers are watching video content, which devices they are using, and what types of content they are consuming across these various devices.

Long-form video (21-40 minutes) and ultra-long-form video (41+ minutes) saw faster growth in the share of “time watched” on every device, from connected TVs to smartphones.

Ultra-long-form content took the highest total share of “time watched” across all devices, despite short-form video (0-5 minutes) having the highest number of assets published.

The report found that 53% of global video views begin on mobile devices, smartphones, and tablets, taking away share from traditional desktop computers. Smartphones saw the highest growth, to 45% from 38% only one year ago.

Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!

In emerging markets, especially Asia Pacific, mobile is king, where 84% of all video consumption is on mobile phones, and with Japan/Korea at 58%.

In the Middle East and Africa, smartphone use tops 57%. In every region but U.S. and Canada, mobile devices took share away from desktop computers.

The report found that the increasing quality of delivery to mobile devices, cheaper data plans, and more affordable Android smartphones from China has had a significant impact on how content is consumed.

“Leveraging mobile video continues to be crucial for OTT providers, as they look to not only reach younger viewers — who traditionally have been mobile first — but also older viewers who have discovered that mobile video is a convenient way to consume content outside the home,” Jim O’Neill, principal analyst, Brightcove, said in a statement.

O’Neill said the amount of content being consumed on mobile devices has more than doubled over the past year. He cites the fact content owners and distributors are making premium content available to consumers on any device.

“This growth will continue as more content — especially high-value sports content — becomes more prevalent and easily accessible on mobile devices,” O’Neill said.

“Mobile is no longer dominated by snackable content — instead, it provides a multi-course meal to consumers,” O’Neill said, “At the International Broadcasting Conference (IBC) earlier this month, the discussion has changed from what’s included broadly in the content mix to delivering content direct-to-consumers with more personalization and fewer limitations.”

Separately, Brightcove said the dominance of iOS on mobile devices has eroded in the past year with video viewed on Android devices now more prevalent.

Globally, Android smartphone share has increased to 68% from 59% one year ago, with Apple iOS remaining dominant for tablet plays.

Android use is highest in Asia Pacific, where 92% of video plays are on Android phones and tablets. Europe is the next highest with 70% of video plays on Android devices. Only Japan/Korea continues to see growth in iOS.