Overview
- Barb reports YouTube reached 51.9 million UK viewers for at least three consecutive minutes in December 2025, edging the BBC’s roughly 50.8–50.9 million and staying ahead for a third straight month since measurement began in October.
- The three-minute monthly reach metric spans TV sets, smartphones, tablets and computers, and industry analysts attribute YouTube’s rise to increased viewing on connected televisions and more high-end long-form creator content.
- The BBC argues the short-duration measure undervalues long-form viewing, citing a 2025 average 15-minute reach of 47 million versus 40.8 million for YouTube and December TV-set reach of 50 million versus YouTube’s 37.5 million, alongside 351 million weekly viewing hours.
- Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has signalled readiness to legislate for prominent placement of public-service content on platforms, while YouTube says changing the law would be premature during ongoing partnership talks with broadcasters.
- Barb’s December figures also showed record three-minute reach for Netflix at 47.1 million and Disney+ at 29.2 million, reinforcing the broader shift of UK audiences toward streaming platforms.