Video downloads to go portable

Over the next five years, new viewing options such as network-enabled video players and download-to-burn services will add momentum to the digital video market by giving consumers additional choices in how they consume video content.

This is the conclusion of a new study from ABI Research, which found that despite a rapid increase in consumers' use of online video, the vast majority of video content delivered over the internet is still held captive on the PC.

"The percentage of internet-delivered video viewed on a portable device will go from just 3 per cent today to 16 per cent by 2011," said principal analyst Michael Wolf.

"This move to portable viewing will be driven largely by a new class of devices with embedded networking connectivity and seamless integration with online video providers. As portable media hardware vendors such as Apple and Microsoft add networking connectivity to their products, and Sony moves away from UMD toward network-based video delivery for the PSP, more content will become portable as it becomes less dependant on the PC."

Content owners and aggregators are also expanding available libraries while adding new usage models for consumers. Recent moves by both CinemaNow and Movielink to allow for download-to-burn video has already resulted in increased adoption of these services and ABI Research expects that expanded options such as these will continue to drive consumers toward the internet as a source for video content.