YouTube's ad revenue in 2025 was higher than Hollywood
What's the story
YouTube has outperformed major Hollywood studios in terms of ad revenue for 2025. The platform raked in a whopping $40.4 billion, according to estimates by research firm MoffettNathanson. This figure not only exceeds the combined ad revenue of Disney, NBC, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which stood at $37.8 billion but also marks a significant turnaround from 2024 when YouTube's ad revenue fell short of these studios' collective earnings.
Comparison
A look at the 2024 numbers
In 2024, YouTube's ad revenue was $36.1 billion, which was less than the combined $41.8 billion earned by Disney, NBCU, Paramount, and WBD. However, things have changed dramatically in 2025 with YouTube's ad revenue surpassing that of these traditional studios. This trend highlights the changing dynamics of content consumption and advertising strategies in today's digital age.
Breakdown
YouTube's revenue v/s Netflix's earnings
YouTube's parent company Alphabet revealed that the platform's total revenue in 2025 reached $60 billion. A significant portion of this revenue comes from subscriptions to services such as YouTube TV, YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, and NFL Sunday Ticket. This is much higher than Netflix's reported annual revenue of $45.2 billion for the same period.
Ad revenue
YouTube v/s Meta
Despite its impressive growth, YouTube's ad revenue still lags behind tech giants like Meta. The social media giant earned a staggering $196.2 billion in ad revenue last year. However, advertisers are increasingly flocking to YouTube as it attracts more viewers, especially younger ones. The platform's fourth-quarter ad revenue stood at an impressive $11.4 billion, further emphasizing its dominance in the digital advertising space.