Can User-Generated Video Really Be This Big?

If several recent research reports are correct, user-generated video is a much bigger deal than most of us probably thought.

In "User Generated Video 2005-2008: Mania Meets Mainstream," streaming-video research firm Accustream contends that u-gen video "scored 22 billion views in 2007." True, u-gen video trailed views through "professional content sites," with the latter accounting for 33.5 billion views, but u-gen video grew much faster last year, up 70% vs. 50.3% for "professional" content, according to Accustream.

Similarly, NewTeeVee reports on a study by Screen Digest projecting that u-gen video's share of total video streams will grow from 47% in 2006 to 55% by 2010. (I must stay that I'm scratching my head over NewTeeVee's conclusion as stated in its headline, "User-Generated Video Growth Flattening").