YouTube Gains Ground Over Netflix in U.S. TV Viewing
According to Nielsen’s latest Gauge report, YouTube accounted for a record 14.2% of all U.S. television viewing time in July, significantly outpacing Netflix's share at 7.8%. This marks an increase from the previous year when YouTube held 13.4%, and Netflix had its then-record high with 8.8%. The gap between the two platforms has widened by nearly double over a twelve-month period. Netflix’s stock performance reflects ongoing challenges, trading near $68 as of this writing—approximately 4% above its 52-week low but down about 46% from its peak in July 2025. Despite these figures, Netflix's revenue and operating income have continued to grow year over year, with second-quarter results showing a 13% increase in revenue to $12.6 billion and an 11% rise in operating income to $4.2 billion. Netflix has also raised its U.S. subscription prices for the first time since early 2025, which could help offset slower growth rates. However, YouTube's ad-driven model is proving more resilient as Alphabet reported a significant increase in YouTube’s advertising revenue compared to Netflix's expected ad income.
