YouTube continues to dominate U.S. TV viewing with a record 11.1% share of total television watch time in December 2024, according to Nielsen's Media Distributor Gauge data. This represents a 7% increase from the previous month, positioning YouTube ahead of major competitors like Netflix (8.5%) and Prime Video (4%).


The 11.1% share comes exclusively from YouTube's main platform, not including viewership from YouTube TV's live streaming service, which boasts over eight million subscribers in the United States. When factoring in YouTube TV numbers, the platform's total television viewing share is even higher.

This growth is particularly noteworthy in the context of video podcasting, where YouTube has already surpassed Spotify as the leading platform in the U.S. Users watched over 400 million hours of podcasts monthly on living room devices in 2024 alone.

Spotify's response includes:

• Launch of a video-podcast-focused Partner Program
• Revenue sharing for eligible creators
• Expanded content moderation efforts
• Hiring of content safety team members

However, Spotify faces several challenges in catching up to YouTube's video dominance:

• Content moderation issues
• Unauthorized content uploads
• Unclear podcast classification standards
• Protected music and television episode violations

The data suggests YouTube's lead in TV viewing and video podcast consumption continues to widen, despite increased competition from established streaming platforms and Spotify's aggressive video expansion efforts.

Stay up-to-date with verified information from trusted sources:

• Nielsen's monthly Media Distributor Gauge reports
• Platform-specific viewership data
• Industry statistics and trends
• Official platform announcements and updates

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