YouTube surpasses Disney, Paramount, WBD in 2025 ad revenue | TechCrunch

"YouTube pulled in a staggering $40.4 billion in ad revenue, which is more than Disney, NBC, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)'s combined ad revenue, whose total came to $37.8 billion. This shift is a clear sign of just how much content consumption has changed over the years and how advertisers have adapted their strategies."

"YouTube's ad revenue for 2025 not only topped the combined haul from the four major Hollywood studios, but also marked a huge turnaround from the previous year. In 2024, YouTube's ad revenue of $36.1 billion fell short of the $41.8 billion in ad revenue collectively earned by Disney, NBCU, Paramount, and WBD. The tables have now turned."

"For decades, these studios have been the kings of entertainment, captivating audiences with big-budget films and hit TV shows. But as traditional studios struggle with shrinking linear TV audiences and the ever-rising costs of productions, YouTube is speeding ahead. Even as these companies pour millions into their own streaming platforms, it's getting harder to keep up with YouTube's momentum."

YouTube achieved $40.4 billion in ad revenue during 2025, exceeding the combined $37.8 billion from Disney, NBC, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery. This represents a significant reversal from 2024, when YouTube's $36.1 billion fell short of the four studios' collective $41.8 billion. YouTube's parent company Alphabet reported total revenue of $60 billion for 2025, with substantial contributions from subscriptions including YouTube TV, YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, and NFL Sunday Ticket. Traditional studios face declining linear TV audiences and rising production costs while YouTube continues accelerating growth. Despite trailing Meta's $196.2 billion in ad revenue, YouTube attracts increasing advertiser investment as content consumption patterns shift.

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