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2h ago

Barb Data Shows YouTube Edges BBC on UK Monthly Reach for First Time

Barb’s new four-screen three-minute metric captures short bursts of viewing that differ from the BBC’s preferred 15-minute standard.

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Overview

  • Barb’s December 2025 figures show YouTube reached 51.9 million people versus 50.8 million for all BBC TV channels combined, with YouTube ahead in each month since measurement began in October.
  • The BBC disputes the comparison, citing a 2025 average monthly 15-minute reach of 47 million versus YouTube’s 40.8 million and TV-set-only December reach of 50 million versus YouTube’s 37.5 million.
  • Barb’s reach counts anyone watching a service for at least three consecutive minutes across TVs, smartphones, tablets and computers.
  • Analysts credit smart-TV uptake and the rise of longer-form creator content for YouTube’s growth, while Barb data also records a Netflix high of 47.1 million in December.
  • The results sharpen policy and funding questions as ministers consider public service prominence on big platforms and the BBC faces licence-fee pressures ahead of its charter review.