Google earns more money from YouTube ad revenue than Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros Discovery combined
India Today
YouTube is now making more money from ads than some of Hollywood's biggest media companies combined. In 2025 alone, the Google-owned platform generated $40.4 billion in ad revenue, overtaking Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount, and Warner Bros Discovery.
Hollywood may have ruled entertainment for decades, bringing films and television shows to audiences worldwide. But today it is no longer the only source of entertainment. Viewing habits are shifting to mobile screens, and online streaming platforms like YouTube are giving tough competition to traditional production houses. So much so that Google’s video platform is now generating more advertising revenue than the combined ad earnings of several of the biggest traditional media companies, including Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount, and Warner Bros Discovery.
According to the latest estimates shared by media research firm MoffettNathanson, YouTube generated $40.4 billion in advertising revenue in 2025, surpassing the $37.8 billion brought in collectively by Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount, and Warner Bros Discovery.
While YouTube has been growing steadily over the years, the report suggests that the past year saw a sharp spike in ad revenue, allowing the platform to overtake heavyweight traditional media companies.
It is not just about money. YouTube is also reportedly capturing a significant share of viewership. Data from Nielsen revealed that YouTube accounted for 12.5 per cent of US TV viewing in January, surpassing the combined streaming viewership of Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount, and Warner Bros Discovery. Following YouTube is Netflix, which leads among streaming platforms but still trails YouTube in overall TV share.
In India, YouTube reportedly has between 491 million and 500 million active users as of early 2026, making it one of the company’s largest markets.
How YouTube is earning more than Hollywood’s production houses?
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