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Online video sharing sites are reaping the benefits of the ongoing writers’ strike in the US.

The on-going writers’ strike has meant that many popular programs are currently off-air in the US and, according to net measurement firm Nielsen Online, this has seen Americans turn in large numbers to online alternatives. Some online video sites have doubled their audience since the strike began at the end of October. “That is greater growth than you would normally see in such a short period and the strike could be a possible factor,” said Nielsen analyst Alex Burmaster.

The news comes as US-based Pew Internet Project highlights a more long-term growth of video sharing sites. The Pew Internet Project cites the spread of broadband connections and the widespread use of video by a variety of websites as factors for the longer term growth in audiences to video sharing sites.

Some 54% of American adults now have a high-speed connection at home, compared to 45% at the same time last year. According to the Pew Internet Project, men are slightly more likely to use a video-sharing site than women - 53% compared to 43%.

The dramatic rise in the number of video-sharing sites and other websites that incorporate video has had the knock-on effect of increasing the number of amateur video makers. Some 22% of Americans now shoot their own videos, with 14% of them posting at least some of that video online.

While we all wait patiently for the writers’ strike to end, it looks like online videos will gain even more attention and share of time as part of the entertainment mix consumed by Americans.