"In its early days, the odds seemed good that YouTube was destined for failure. After a false start as a dating website, it wasn't clear whether the company could cover the cost of streaming video content, or avoid the fate of Napster, which was sued out of business for copyright infringement."
"But after getting acquired by Google in 2006, and deciding to share ad revenue with creators a year later, YouTube went on not only to survive, but also to revolutionize the entire media ecosystem-from "double rainbows" to the "Ice Bucket Challenge." In 2024, YouTube took in $36.3 billion in ad revenue, and today it is the most-watched video provider in the U.S.-not just among streamers, but cable and broadcast TV as well."
YouTube began with a precarious start that included a failed dating-site iteration and concerns about streaming costs and copyright liability. Acquisition by Google in 2006 and a 2007 decision to share ad revenue with creators enabled sustainable growth. The platform generated major cultural moments such as "double rainbows" and the Ice Bucket Challenge. By 2024, YouTube generated $36.3 billion in advertising revenue and became the most-watched video provider in the U.S., outpacing both streaming services and traditional cable and broadcast television. Platform executives and creators continue to shape the evolution of television-like viewing.
Read at Fast Company
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