Sorry, iTunes. Despite vigorous efforts by Apple to break into the space, Netflix and Hulu remain the leaders of premium online video entertainment, according to a survey of Web users by Citigroup's
Mark Mahaney. "As ubiquitous a destination for digital music purchases, iTunes has not been able to hit the ground running in online video," 9to5Mac.com huffs.
Netflix, it notes, is a
subscription play and Hulu is an ad-supported model backed by major players. Polled users were asked to pick up to five Web sites they preferred for watching video online. Only 9.8% chose iTunes,
while even fewer watch on-demand movies on Amazon -- just 7.3%. Meanwhile, YouTube remain everyone's -- or at least 69.2% of users -- favorite source of free web clips.
A surprise to
9to5, Facebook came in second -- with a 27.1% share -- and ahead of Netflix's 24.5% and Hulu's 22% share. "While Facebook does host user-uploaded videos, it mostly aggregates YouTube clips users
publish on their wall," 9to5 notes.
Read the whole story at 9to5mac.com »