YouTube surpasses Disney, Paramount, WBD in 2025 ad revenue

YouTube generated $40.4 billion in ad revenue in 2025, surpassing the combined ad revenue of Disney, NBC, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery ($37.8 billion). This marks a reversal from 2024, when YouTube's $36.1 billion trailed the studios' collective $41.8 billion. YouTube's total revenue hit $60 billion when including subscriptions, exceeding Netflix's $45.2 billion. The shift reflects changing content consumption habits and advertiser strategies favoring platforms where younger audiences spend time. Meta still leads in ad revenue at $196.2 billion. YouTube also announced an expansion of its AI deepfake detection technology to politicians, government officials, and journalists.