VTSIOM has recorded the leadership of domestic platforms in the segment of long video

The vast majority of Russian Internet users use at least one video service to watch long horizontal video reviews, interviews, and films, and VK Video holds the lead in this segment. This is evidenced by the results of a study by the VTsIOM analytical center, presented on Wednesday, May 20.

According to the survey, 95% of respondents use at least one video service to watch long horizontal videos. Most of them prefer the VK Video platform, where 61% of Internet users watch long horizontal videos. RUTUBE is in second place with 49%, and YouTube is in third place, which is used by 44% of respondents.

VK Video is also the leader in terms of frequency of use: every second respondent chooses the platform once a week and more often (50%). This is followed by YouTube (42%) and RUTUBE (35%). At the same time, YouTube has become the leader in audience outflow — 43% of respondents admitted that they had used the service before, but have now stopped doing so. For comparison, user switching from other large platforms, such as VK Video, RUTUBE, Zen or Odnoklassniki, is less widespread and amounts to 13-20%.

VK Video also ranks first in terms of spontaneous knowledge of the sites (57%). YouTube is on the second line (52%), RUTUBE is on the third (50%).

"In the era of fast content, long videos [reviews, interviews, films, etc.] remain a popular format offering the audience a depth of immersion and an emotional response," the VTsIOM materials say.

The study also showed that TV content is gradually moving to the Internet. Almost four out of 10 users (39%) watch TV channel programs online, either recorded or live. Russians' opinions about the possibility of completely replacing traditional television with video services are almost equally divided: 45% admit such a scenario, while 44% consider it impossible. It is noteworthy that among those who watch programs exclusively on TV, 30% of respondents believe that Internet platforms will eventually displace television broadcasting.

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On February 9, it was reported that according to the analytical company Mediascope, the VK Video video service became the most popular video hosting service in terms of audience reach in Russia in January 2026. VK Video's daily audience in January was 42.2 million people, which is more than the December figure of 41.1 million. At the same time, YouTube video hosting gathered 22 million daily users, and Rutube — 8.3 million.