Internet video viewing has jumped more than 80% since last year, according to new information from the Online Publishers’ Association.

In March of 2006, 5% of online video viewers watched once a day and 24% watched at least once a month. Weekly viewership grown significantly, with 44% watching weekly and 8% watching daily.

The study also looked at the most popular video content and, while humorous videos may appear to be omnipresent, it found that the leading video content category is news/current events (14% watch daily). Weather ranks second (11% watch daily), followed by jokes/funny clips (9% watch daily).

Other highlights:

• 80% of all video viewers have watched a video ad online, and 52% have taken some sort of action, whether it’s checking out a website (31%), searching for more info (22%), going into a store (15%), or making apurchase (16%).
• Advertising in good content improves people’s perception of your brand. The study found that if a consumer has a positive attitude toward an advertised brand, and likes the video content that the ad appeared within, brand consideration jumps 61%. If the consumer’s initial attitude toward the brand is neutral or even negative, brand consideration still rises 21% if they like the adjacent video content.