HAMPSHIRE, U.K. — Online adult consumer viewing will grow by 42 percent in the next five years, according to a study released today from Juniper Research.
Additionally, Juniper’s new data found that over 136 billion adult videos will be seen online in 2015 alone, with this set to grow to 193 billion by 2020.
The study also found that more consumers are viewing porn on their mobile devices. On a global scale, each smartphone user of adult content is expected to watch an average of 348 videos this year.
“3G, 4G and Wi-Fi have changed the nature of video-based services, as they make the streaming of high-quality video quicker and more readily available to users ‘on the go’,” the report said.
Its latest paper, “Digital Adult Content: Market Trends, Forecasts & Revenue Opportunities 2015-2020,” found revenue growth to be steady rather than spectacular over the next five years in the adult entertainment business, but specific niches such as webcam offerings will outperform the overall sector.
Juniper’s research observed that webcam services were being monetized on a subscription rather than pay-per-view basis, claiming that a significant proportion of users preferred to revisit the same model as a rationale underpinning this trend.
Overall, video views are forecast to grow by almost 55 percent by 2020, Juniper said. While there will be a marked increase in usage levels in developing markets, net growth will be greatest in the U.S., with other mature markets, such as Western Europe, seeing a more modest increase.
In developing regions, service uptake will be rapid, driven by increasing availability of 4G and Wi-Fi, as well as increases in smartphone and tablet ownership, Juniper said.
Juniper noted other findings as well, including that content delivered as augmented or virtual reality will see growth, although usage be primarily niche based, and that Adult SMS used primarily in the Indian Subcontinent, will continue to see a severe decline in revenue.