YouTube has hit some impressive numbers in 2025. <\/p>\n\n
According to new estimates from research firm Moffett Nathanson \u2014 as reported by The Hollywood Reporter<\/a> \u2014 the platform pulled in a staggering $40.4 billion in ad revenue, which is more than Disney, NBC, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery’s (WBD’s) combined ad revenue, whose total came to $37.8 billion.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n This shift is a clear sign of just how much content consumption has changed over the years and how advertisers have adapted their strategies.<\/p>\n\n YouTube\u2019s ad revenue for 2025 not only topped the combined haul from the four major Hollywood studios, but also marked a huge turnaround from the previous year. In 2024, YouTube\u2019s ad revenue of $36.1 billion fell short of the $41.8 billion in ad revenue collectively earned by Disney, NBCU, Paramount, and WBD. The tables have now turned.<\/p>\n\n For decades, these studios have been the kings of entertainment, captivating audiences with big-budget films and hit TV shows. But as traditional studios struggle with shrinking linear TV audiences and the ever-rising costs of production, YouTube is speeding ahead. Even as these companies pour millions into their own streaming platforms, it\u2019s getting harder to keep up with YouTube\u2019s momentum.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n Last month, parent company Alphabet reported that YouTube\u2019s total revenue in 2025 soared to $60 billion. A big portion of YouTube\u2019s revenue now comes from subscriptions, which include services like YouTube TV, YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, and NFL Sunday Ticket. (For context, that\u2019s well above Netflix\u2019s reported $45.2 billion<\/a> for the full year.)<\/p>\n\n Disney, NBC, Paramount, and WBD are also heavily dependent on subscriptions; for instance, Disney’s media business pulled in a total of $60.9 billion in revenue last year, when you include subscriptions.<\/p>\n