YouTube Tops U.S. TV Viewing in February With Record 11.6% Share

YouTube surpasses Disney for the second time, driven by older audiences and diverse creator-driven content, as streaming hits 43.5% of total TV usage.

YouTube achieved a record 11.6% share of U.S. TV viewing in February 2025, according to Nielsen, marking its second time as the top-ranked media distributor.
The platform's growth has been fueled by a 53% increase in its TV viewing share over the past two years, with significant contributions from viewers aged 50 and older.
Disney fell to second place with a 10% share, partly due to the absence of NFL and College Football Playoff games, which boosted its January numbers.
Fox rose to third with an 8.3% share, driven by record Super Bowl viewership, increased Fox News engagement, and higher NASCAR ratings.
Streaming platforms collectively reached a record 43.5% of total TV usage, underscoring the ongoing decline of traditional cable and broadcast TV.

The Hollywood Reporter