YouTube has achieved a major milestone in the global entertainment industry. New estimates show that the platform generated more advertising revenue in 2025 than several of Hollywood’s biggest media companies combined.
According to estimates from research firm MoffettNathanson, reported by The Hollywood Reporter, YouTube pulled in $40.4 billion in advertising revenue in 2025.
That figure exceeded the combined ad revenue of $37.8 billion generated by major entertainment companies including The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, Paramount Global, and Warner Bros. Discovery.
The numbers highlight how dramatically content consumption habits have changed, with audiences increasingly turning to digital platforms instead of traditional television and studio content.
The development marks a major turnaround from the previous year.
In 2024, YouTube generated $36.1 billion in ad revenue, which was lower than the $41.8 billion collectively earned by Disney, NBCU, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery.
By 2025, however, the balance had shifted significantly, with YouTube overtaking the combined advertising earnings of those traditional media giants.
For decades, Hollywood studios dominated the entertainment industry through big-budget films and hit television shows.
However, traditional media companies are now facing declining linear TV audiences and rising production costs.
Even as these studios invest heavily in their own streaming platforms, keeping pace with YouTube’s growth has become increasingly difficult.
Total revenue climbs to $60bln
Last month, YouTube’s parent company Alphabet Inc. reported that the platform’s total revenue reached $60 billion in 2025.
A growing share of that income now comes from subscriptions tied to services such as:
-
YouTube TV
-
YouTube Premium
-
YouTube Music
-
NFL Sunday Ticket
For comparison, streaming giant Netflix reported $45.2 billion in revenue for the year, well below YouTube’s total.
Traditional media companies also rely heavily on subscription income. For instance, Disney’s media business generated $60.9 billion in revenue in 2025 when subscription services were included.
Still behind tech giants in advertising
Despite its impressive growth, YouTube’s advertising revenue remains far behind major tech platforms.
For example, Meta Platforms generated $196.2 billion in advertising revenue in 2025.
Still, advertisers continue to shift spending toward YouTube, largely because younger audiences are spending more time on the platform.
In the fourth quarter of 2025 alone, YouTube’s ad revenue reached $11.4 billion.
YouTube is also increasing its investment in artificial intelligence.
This week, the platform announced it is expanding its likeness-detection technology to a pilot group that includes government officials, politicians, and journalists.
The system is designed to detect AI-generated deepfakes and allows individuals to request removal if they believe the content violates YouTube’s policies.
