This sharp change occurred in just one year: in 2024, YouTube recorded revenue of $36.1 billion, while the mentioned companies earned $41.8 billion. Analysts claim that this situation is a logical result of changes in content consumption and the adaptation of advertisers.
Despite the billions invested in creating blockbusters and series, studios are facing a number of challenges:
- the shrinking audience of traditional television;
- increased costs of content production;
- intensifying competition from digital platforms.
YouTube's parent company, Alphabet, reported that the platform's total revenue in 2025 was $60 billion, with a significant portion coming from subscriptions. These include:
- YouTube TV;
- YouTube Premium;
- YouTube Music;
- NFL Sunday Ticket.
Major studios are also continuing to develop their subscription services, as demonstrated by Disney, whose media division generated $60.9 billion in total revenue in 2025, including subscription income.
However, YouTube has not yet caught up with the largest tech companies in advertising revenue. For example, Meta earned $196.2 billion from advertising in 2025. Nevertheless, advertiser interest in YouTube continues to grow, partly due to its audience, especially among young people who are spending more time on the platform. In Q4 2025, YouTube's advertising revenue amounted to $11.4 billion.
At the same time, the company is actively working on enhancing safety. In particular, it has expanded its AI-based facial and voice recognition program, which helps identify deepfakes and can detect videos with altered images. The system notifies users of potential violations and submits requests for content removal if it violates platform rules. The pilot project already involves representatives from authorities, politicians, and journalists.
