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YouTube Becomes the World’s Largest Media Company, Surpassing Disney: In a major shift in the global media landscape, YouTube has officially been crowned the world’s largest media company by revenue, surpassing longtime entertainment giant The Walt Disney Company. The milestone reflects how digital platforms powered by creators and user-generated content have reshaped the entertainment industry.
The video-streaming platform, owned by Alphabet Inc., generated an estimated $62.3 billion in revenue last year, according to data compiled by research firm MoffettNathanson Research. That figure narrowly edged out Disney’s media revenue of $60.9 billion, marking a symbolic turning point in the battle between traditional media and digital-first platforms.
Unlike many legacy media companies struggling with declining cable subscriptions, shifting audience habits, and disruption from artificial intelligence, YouTube appears positioned for sustained growth. Analyst Michael Nathanson said the platform’s scale and business model give it a powerful competitive advantage.
“In a world filled with business model concerns, YouTube’s global scale and innovative offerings create an uncommonly high moat,” Nathanson wrote in a note to investors, suggesting the platform is well insulated from competition.
If YouTube operated as an independent company, Nathanson estimates its valuation could reach between $500 billion and $560 billion, highlighting the enormous value of the creator-driven ecosystem.
Although Alphabet confirmed in its fourth-quarter earnings report that YouTube generated “more than $60 billion” in annual revenue, the company did not release an exact figure. The MoffettNathanson estimate excludes revenue from Disney’s theme parks and cruise businesses, which generated $32.6 billion in Disney’s 2025 fiscal year, focusing solely on media-related operations.
Beyond revenue, YouTube has already secured dominance in audience share. According to measurement firm Nielsen, January marked the 11th consecutive month that YouTube topped its distributor index, capturing 12.5% of total aggregated audience viewing across major media platforms.
Industry leaders are also recognizing how YouTube has evolved from a simple video-sharing website into a major television competitor. At a recent congressional hearing related to the proposed acquisition involving Warner Bros. Discovery, Ted Sarandos of Netflix emphasized that more than half of YouTube’s viewing now happens on television screens.
“YouTube is not just cat videos anymore. YouTube is TV,” Sarandos said, underscoring the platform’s growing role in the living room.
The rapid growth of YouTube has been driven by a dual-revenue model combining advertising with paid subscription services such as YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, and NFL Sunday Ticket. Nearly one-third of the platform’s revenue now comes from subscriptions, while advertising on its free platform generated more than $40 billion last year.
Despite its top ranking, revenue growth for YouTube slowed slightly, rising 14% in 2025 compared with 19% in 2024. Even so, it still outpaced most major competitors. Streaming device maker Roku reported 18% growth, while Netflix posted 16%, and Fox Corporation recorded about 9% growth.
Analysts say YouTube’s future could be further strengthened by advances in artificial intelligence. Tools powered by generative AI may allow creators to produce higher-quality content more efficiently, while improving targeting and monetization for advertisers.
As media consumption increasingly shifts online, YouTube’s combination of global reach, creator-driven content, and diversified revenue streams is positioning it as the dominant force in the next era of entertainment.
