In an unexpected development that may cause alarm among traditional television executives, YouTube has now taken the lead in overall TV viewing market share, outperforming even Disney for the first time. As per Nielsen’s most recent Distributor Gauge Report, YouTube garnered a remarkable 11.6% of all U.S. TV viewership in February, making it only the second instance since the report began where the platform has achieved this feat.

11.6% was previously mentioned in past analyses, but this new data specifically ranks distributors, with YouTube leading all entertainment conglomerates. Coming in second place is none other than The Walt Disney Company, which experienced a significant decrease from its January figures due to the loss of viewership gains from the NFL Playoffs and College Football Playoff games.
Disney continues to face more competition as Fox Corporation, distinct from the Disney-owned 20th Century Fox, climbed up to third place, pushing Netflix aside. This leap was fueled by strong Super Bowl viewership and a spike on their free streaming service Tubi. Moreover, Fox News Channel accounted for an impressive 37% of the company’s total viewing share, with February seeing a 3% rise, which correlates with increased political coverage and Trump-related news developments.

This current period signifies more than just a rearrangement of the leaderboard; it’s a pivotal moment for New Media. Over the past two years (from 7.9% to 11.6%), YouTube’s growth has been rapid and unyielding. Unlike giants like Disney that rely heavily on large-scale events and franchise content, YouTube flourishes on creator-led programming which is dispersed, varied, and consistently flowing. Its strategic approach of fostering individual creativity rather than manufacturing traditional TV content has not only shown viability but has become dominant in the long run.
It’s particularly noteworthy that YouTube’s expansion isn’t limited to younger generations like Gen Z or Millennials. According to Nielsen, traditional living-room viewing has surpassed mobile and computer use — a trend driven by older demographics. In fact, the viewership of adults aged 65 and above has nearly doubled over the last two years, approaching that of children between 2 and 11 years old.
It’s concerning for Disney, given its reliance on big-budget franchise series and expensive streaming content, much of which is invested heavily in advance. YouTube, on the other hand, with its lower operational costs and wide reach, can swiftly adjust to viewer habits and steer clear of many issues faced by Hollywood’s costly production system.

Should this trajectory persist (which appears likely), conventional media organizations might find themselves compelled to reassess various aspects, such as their distribution structures and content generation tactics. The era of content creation democratization is no longer a future prospect; it’s already upon us.
YouTube is now the biggest name on the TV screen.
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2025-03-25 17:55