YouTube Tops Nielsen’s TV Viewing Chart Thanks to Older Viewers

Nielsen

YouTube dominated Nielsen’s Media Distributor Gauge report in February, capturing 11.6% of U.S. TV viewing—its highest share ever, up from 9.8% in January. It outperformed Disney, FOX, and Netflix, with viewers over 50 driving much of this growth, making up 36% of YouTube’s TV audience compared to 28% for teens and young adults combined.

Why It Matters: This milestone reinforces YouTube’s growth in TV viewership and proves it’s not just a platform for younger audiences. With its expanding reach across generations, YouTube is well-positioned to capture more ad dollars traditionally reserved for linear TV and traditional streaming services.

With its Brandcast event scheduled for May 14th and design updates for the TV experience on the horizon, the next few months will be pivotal for YouTube’s TV business.