YouTube Surpasses Disney as Largest Media Company
Analysts at MoffettNathanson report that YouTube, owned by Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), has become the world’s largest media company by revenue, estimating its earnings at $62 billion in 2025. This surpasses Disney’s (NYSE: DIS) media revenue, which was reported at $60.1 billion, excluding its Experiences segment, totaling $94.4 billion.
YouTube achieved a significant milestone with over 325 million paid subscribers and generated approximately $40.4 billion from ad revenue alone, complementing nearly $20 billion from subscriptions. This shift highlights the ongoing transition from traditional media to streaming platforms, putting pressure on Disney’s legacy media divisions, which have seen a decline in viewership and revenue.
Disney’s earnings per share rose 152% to $6.85, but its stock has remained relatively flat over the past decade, with a 48% drop from its peak five years ago, indicating challenges ahead as the company navigates this evolving media landscape.
