YouTube outpaces Disney, Paramount and WBD in 2025 advertising revenue

YouTube has posted some remarkable figures in 2025.

Based on new estimates from research firm Moffett Nathanson, as cited by The Hollywood Reporter, the platform generated an enormous $40.4 billion in advertising revenue, surpassing the combined ad revenue of Disney, NBC, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which together brought in $37.8 billion.

The development highlights just how dramatically audience habits have shifted over time and how advertisers have responded by redirecting their spending toward platforms where viewers are increasingly active.

YouTube’s advertising revenue in 2025 exceeded the combined earnings of the four major Hollywood media companies. It also represented a major reversal from the year before. In 2024, YouTube reported $36.1 billion in ad revenue, which was still below the $41.8 billion collectively earned by Disney, NBCU, Paramount, and WBD. That balance has now changed.

For many years, these traditional entertainment giants dominated the industry, drawing massive audiences with blockbuster films and successful television programming. But as legacy media companies face continued declines in linear TV viewership and rising production expenses, YouTube continues to gain ground. Even while these companies invest heavily in their own streaming services, matching YouTube’s pace has become increasingly difficult.

Last month, Alphabet, YouTube’s parent company, announced that YouTube’s total revenue climbed to $60 billion in 2025. A significant share of that revenue now comes from subscriptions, including YouTube TV, YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, and NFL Sunday Ticket. To put that in perspective, the figure is well above Netflix’s reported full-year revenue of $45.2 billion.

Disney, NBC, Paramount, and WBD also rely heavily on subscription-based income. Disney, for example, generated $60.9 billion in revenue from its media business last year, including subscription revenue.

Even so, YouTube’s advertising business remains smaller than that of major tech players such as Meta, which recorded $196.2 billion in ad revenue in 2025. Still, brands continue to increase spending on YouTube because that is where audiences — particularly younger viewers — are spending more of their time. In the fourth quarter alone, YouTube’s ad revenue reached $11.4 billion.

YouTube is also increasing its focus on artificial intelligence. This week, the company said 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 when they believe the content breaks YouTube’s policies.