YouTube Surpasses Disney+ and Netflix in TV Viewership

YouTube's Rising Prominence in Television Viewing

A recent report from Nielsen highlights the accelerating growth of YouTube within the television sector, serving as a crucial indicator of shifting viewing habits.

Nielsen’s “Media Distributor Gauge” report for April 2025, published on Tuesday, revealed a key achievement for YouTube. The platform has now secured the largest portion of TV viewership for three months running.

Currently, YouTube commands 12.4% of the total time viewers dedicate to watching television. This represents a considerable increase from the 12% recorded in the prior month.

The data also demonstrates a substantial jump from the 9.6% share held just one year earlier, confirming a strong upward trend.

Surpassing Traditional Media Giants

This latest data firmly establishes YouTube’s leading position in the living room, exceeding the viewership shares of established media corporations like Disney, Paramount, and Netflix.

Disney secured the second-largest share of TV viewing in April, accounting for 10.7% of the total audience time.

Growth Driven by TV Device Usage

Internal data from YouTube further supports this trend. During the first quarter of 2025, televisions were the most frequently used device for accessing YouTube content within the United States.

Future Expansion with NFL Partnership

YouTube’s share of TV viewing is projected to expand further in the coming months. The company recently announced a major partnership with the NFL during its annual Upfront event for advertisers.

This landmark agreement designates YouTube as the exclusive streaming platform for the inaugural Friday night game of the NFL season, reaching a worldwide audience.

Notably, this marks the first instance of YouTube functioning as a live broadcaster for NFL games.