Mobile to account for over three-quarters of video viewing this year

Mobile phones are set to account for more than three-quarters (78.4%) of digital video viewing in 2018, with a total of 2.38 billion people watching streamed or downloaded video content, according to a report from eMarketer. The figure means almost a quarter of the global population will watch video over a mobile phone this year, up 7.2 percent year on year and nearly double the penetration posted back in 2014.

The report adds that 1.58 billion people will watch YouTube this year, up 7.5 percent year on year and equivalent to nearly two-thirds of all digital video viewers worldwide. Expanding availability of subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services, including Netflix, HBO Go, Shomi and Youku Video will also help spur overall viewer growth, as will video sharing and chatting on apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and WeChat.