Hollywood has another reason to fear YouTube. The Google-owned streaming giant earned more ad revenue last year than Disney, NBCUniversal, Paramount, Skydance, and Warner Bros. Discovery combined, Business Insider reports.
YouTube’s ad revenue in 2025 will surpass the combined $37.8 billion of its four closest Hollywood rivals, according to new estimates from media research firm MoffettNathanson. (With the addition of rival Fox, which ranks fifth, the traditional media cohort would surpass YouTube at $44.8 billion.)
That’s a significant shift from 2024, when YouTube’s ad revenue of $36.1 billion was less than the combined $41.8 billion of Disney, Comcast’s NBCU, Paramount, and WBD, according to MoffettNathanson. YouTube keeps nearly half of its advertising revenue, paying creators a 55% cut of ads on standard videos.
YouTube also generated nearly $22 billion in subscription revenue in 2025, thanks to its live streaming service YouTube TV, its ad-free YouTube Premium and YouTube Music plans, and its NFL Sunday Ticket service for football superfans.