YouTube has emerged as the leading streaming platform in the United States, surpassing both Netflix and Disney Plus in popularity. According to Nielsen’s latest “Media distributor Gauge” report for May 2025, YouTube’s dominance in the streaming landscape is now firmly established.

The report indicates that streaming services collectively accounted for 44.8 percent of total media consumption in the US, exceeding the combined viewership of cable TV (24.1 percent) and broadcast TV (20.1 percent).

This marks a notable milestone as streaming has, for the first time, overtaken traditional TV in terms of total viewing time.

YouTube captures the largest share of the streaming audience, with 12.5 percent of total consumption.This is nearly double the share held by Netflix, which recorded 7.5 percent.

Disney Plus holds the third position with a 5 percent share, further solidifying YouTube’s position as the market leader in the US streaming sector.

Google‘s platform is favored for its flexibility, personalized content recommendations, and accessibility across various devices, including televisions. YouTube’s reach now extends beyond mobile phones and laptops, dominating television screens as well.

Nielsen’s report also reveals that users collectively watch over 1 billion hours of YouTube content daily on television devices.

This trend signifies a notable shift in media consumption habits among US viewers.

Audiences are increasingly turning to YouTube for podcasts,talk shows,news,and long-form content from their favorite creators,rather than relying on traditional broadcast or cable channels.

YouTube’s Growing Role in Digital News Consumption

Beyond entertainment, YouTube is also playing an increasingly important role in the consumption of digital news.

According to the “2025 Digital News Report” from the reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ), 54 percent of people in the US now access news through social media and video platforms like YouTube.

This figure surpasses the proportion of people who get their news from television (50 percent) and websites or news applications (48 percent).

The report highlights the success of social media creators in capturing the attention of audiences, especially younger demographics who are becoming harder to reach through traditional media outlets.

The primary platforms for accessing news in the US include Facebook, youtube, Instagram, WhatsApp, X (formerly twitter), and TikTok, according to a report by 9to5Google.

While TikTok is experiencing rapid growth in digital news consumption globally, YouTube and facebook remain the dominant platforms for users seeking news information.