Disney, Paramount & Warner Bros Lose Ad Revenue Battle to YouTube

YouTube has pulled off a major win in the media business. The Google-owned video platform now earns more advertising revenue than traditional entertainment giants like Disney, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery combined.

YouTube beats major studios’ ad revenue by a landslide

New numbers show just how much the media landscape is shifting. Estimates from research firm MoffettNathanson suggest that YouTube pulled in roughly $40.4 billion in ad revenue in 2025.

That total actually beat the combined $37.8 billion generated from advertising by traditional entertainment giants like The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, Paramount Global, and Warner Bros. Discovery. The comparison shows how fast the digital platform has raced ahead of Hollywood’s old-school powerhouses in the ad business (via Business Insider).

The turnaround looks even more dramatic when compared with the year before. In 2024, YouTube generated about $36.1 billion in advertising. That number still trailed the roughly $41.8 billion those traditional media companies earned together at the time.

However, the rapid growth of online video ads in 2025 pushed YouTube into the lead. If Fox Corporation were included in the traditional media group, their total ad revenue would climb to around $44.8 billion. That would place them slightly ahead again.

YouTube also runs its business a bit differently from traditional Hollywood studios. The platform splits a big chunk of its ad revenue with creators. In most cases, video creators take about 55 percent of the advertising income, while YouTube keeps the rest. Even with that revenue share, the platform reportedly still pulls in more total ad money than many long-established entertainment companies.

Ads are only one part of YouTube’s growing dominance. The platform has also become a major force in TV viewing. Data from Nielsen showed that YouTube accounted for roughly 12.5 percent of television viewing in the United States during January. That figure actually topped the combined streaming share from companies like NBCUniversal, The Walt Disney Company, Paramount Global, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Among subscription streaming services, Netflix comes the closest with about 8.8 percent of viewing. However, Netflix still brings in relatively little money from advertising compared with YouTube’s massive ad-driven model.

Source: Comingsoon.net