Connect with us
Anglostratits

Tech

YouTube is worth $40bn to advertisers but revenue growth is decelerating

Published

3 months ago

on

YouTube
  • YouTube reaches 2.6 billion users, driven by its Shorts video format. Gen Z is YouTube’s most valuable and commercially active audience 
  • TV is becoming YouTube’s fastest-growing screen. Connected TV accounts for 45% of total YouTube watch time in the U.S 
  • TikTok and Netflix emerge as key competitors 
  • Marketers rank YouTube as most trusted advertising platform 

 

WARC Media’s Platform Insights: YouTube – a new report spanning investment, consumption and performance
15 July 2026 – YouTube has become one of the world’s most powerful advertising ecosystems, now competing directly with linear TV for living-room attention. It has around 2.6 billion monthly users and annual revenue exceeding $60bn in 2025, of which more than $40bn is attributed to advertising, according to WARC Media.

However, the platform’s ad business growth is slowing, and it finds itself under pressure from rivals such as Netflix and TikTok.

WARC Media’s Iatest Platform Insights report examines YouTube’s ad revenue trajectory and competitive position, how and where audiences are consuming content, and what the data says about campaign performance.

Alex Brownsell, Head of Content, WARC Media, and lead editorof the report, says: “Rising consumption of video content on YouTube, and in particular on TV screens, has not yet translated into the kind of year-on-year ad revenue growth we see elsewhere in the digital ad market. YouTube has been less successful than rivals such as TikTok in its attempts to persuade marketers of its role in driving lower-funnel outcomes, hence its growing focus on winning a greater share of TV budgets.”

Investment: YouTube advertising revenue reached $40.4bn in 2025, but growth slows

YouTube’s global ad revenue grew 11.7% year-on-year to $40.4bn in 2025, while total platform revenue, including YouTube Premium subscriptions, exceeded $60.0bn for the first time.

However, YouTube’s year-on-year ad revenue growth decelerated from 14.7% in 2024 to 11.7% in 2025 and is forecast to drop to 7.0% this year ($43.2bn) and 7.9% by 2027 ($46.6bn).

 
In part, this reflects a maturing platform, but YouTube faces growing competition for performance ad dollars as marketers favour platforms like TikTok for social commerce. At current growth rates, TikTok’s ad revenue could overtake YouTube’s by 2028.
Netflix has also emerged as a key competitor. Its ad tier success positions it for long-term advantage in securing subscriber and advertiser investment and is expected to pull ahead of YouTube over the next 18 months.

 

Research from DoubleVerify’s 2026 Global Insights, Kantar’s Media Resources 2025, and WARC’s Voice of the Marketer carried out last year, all found that marketers globally intend to increase ad investment with YouTube this year, suggesting it remains a core component in media plans.

Consumption: 2.6 billion monthly users and still growing. TV is YouTube’s fastest-growing screen

YouTube is used by nearly 2.6 billion people every month, who spend an average of 58 minutes daily on the platform in 2025, up from 48 minutes in 2024 – reflecting deepening engagement rather than audience expansion.

India leads with 500 million users, followed by the US at 254 million, with Indonesia and Brazil close behind at 151 million and 150 million respectively.

Based on Similarweb App Intelligence data, YouTube generates the highest total time spent on any social or video platform globally.

The 25-34 age group is the largest demographic segment at 21.7%, the 35-44 group accounts for 18.5% and the over-65s represent the smallest segment at 9.5%.

YouTube viewing is shifting from mobile to larger screens. Connected TV accounts for 45% of total YouTube watch time in the US, with average session lengths exceeding 45 minutes and completion rates of 95% or higher.
YouTube Shorts, the platform’s vertical video format is reshaping consumption, and now averages more than 200 billion daily views globally.

 

Monetisation is steadily rising in response. In several major markets, including the U.S., revenue-per-watch-hour for Shorts has overtaken that of traditional in-stream formats. Further ad revenue growth will require advertisers to get on board with the creative requirements for the format.

YouTube’s content mix is broader than any other platform, spanning music, entertainment, gaming, news, education, children’s content, and an increasingly significant podcast offering.

According to Affinco data, music videos remain the most-watched content globally. MrBeast leads by subscribers at 503 million; Indian music label T-Series leads for views at 322 billion.

YouTube’s strength lies in local, interest-led, and creator-driven content, while traditional broadcast and SVOD platforms are better positioned to create global cultural moments.

Performance: YouTube is the most trusted advertising environment among marketers

For a third consecutive year, YouTube ranked as the most preferred and most trusted media brand among marketers globally, according to Kantar, and ranks second in brand safety, behind Netflix.

Ad format selection is driving variations in ad performance. In-feed ads have been found by Store Growers to deliver the strongest click-through performance, with CTRs ranging from 1% to 3%, above the all platform average of 0.65%. Non-skippable in-stream ads generate less than 0.3% click-through rates, making them better suited to awareness objectives than to direct response.

Gen Z is YouTube’s most valuable and commercially active audience. Half (51%) of Gen Z males and 43% of Gen Z females made a purchase after watching an ad on YouTube Shorts, making YouTube a direct commerce driver for younger cohorts.

YouTube has overtaken Spotify for podcast viewing. Viewers watched more than 700 million hours of podcasts on YouTube via TV screens in a month, up 70% year-on-year.

YouTube has eclipsed Reddit as the leading social platform source for large language models (LLMs), creating a new visibility layer for brands with a strong YouTube presence.

 

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Tech

OPPO Find X10 Pro Max to Debut Globally with MediaTek’s 2nm Flagship Dimensity 9600 Pro

Published

23 hours ago

on

October 15, 2026

By

OPPO

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 October 2026 – OPPO, a leading global smart device brand, today announced that the upcoming Find X10 Pro Max will be among the first smartphones to feature the flagship MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro and launch in international markets.

Built on TSMC’s advanced 2nm N2P process, the MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro delivers a significant generational leap in performance and power efficiency. Compared with the previous-generation process, it delivers up to a 61% improvement in CPU multi-core energy efficiency, providing a stronger foundation for sustained flagship performance and increasingly demanded on-device AI workloads on Find X10 Pro Max.

 




 
 

For CPU performance, the Dimensity 9600 Pro continues MediaTek’s All-Big-Core architecture with a new configuration featuring two 4.55GHz C2-Ultra cores and six performance cores. The new CPU delivers an overall performance improvement of 17%, while independent frequency control for each core enables more precise workload scheduling, helping Find X10 Pro Max balance sustained performance with outstanding power efficiency.

Graphics performance takes another step forward with the latest flagship G2-Ultra NX GPU, introducing enhanced ray tracing and new neural graphics capabilities. Under sustained heavy workloads, the Dimensity 9600 Pro delivers approximately 27% higher performance, enabling richer visual detail and more immersive gaming experiences on Find X10 Pro Max.

The Dimensity 9600 Pro also brings a major upgrade to on-device AI with its latest-generation dual-NPU design, combining a powerful NPU with a Super Efficient NPU. The new high-performance NPU delivers 51% faster LLM prefill performance, providing powerful support for workloads including large-model inference and computational imaging. Meanwhile, the Super Efficient NPU is 40% more power efficient, enabling persistent AI capabilities to run at ultra-low power for more responsive and always-available AI experiences.

Further enhancing the platform is OPPO Laminar Flow Engine, jointly developed by OPPO and MediaTek and making its debut on Find X10 Pro Max. By restructuring the underlying rendering architecture and coordinating it more closely with system scheduling, the technology achieves a better balance between ultra-smooth system responsiveness and low power consumption. It also helps accelerate app launches and maintain smooth and stable content loading during demanding scenarios such as rapid photo browsing.

Further details about OPPO Find X10 Pro Max, powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro, will be revealed at the upcoming global launch event.

About OPPO
OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone – “Smiley Face” – in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services. OPPO has footprints in more than 90 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.
 




 

Continue Reading

Business

Liquid C2 partners with KnowBe4 to bring workforce risk management to African businesses

Published

2 days ago

on

October 14, 2026

By

KnowBe4

KnowBe4 is an addition to Liquid C2’s Secure360 portfolio with ongoing security awareness, phishing simulations, and risk management capabilities

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, October 13, 2026/APO Group/ –Liquid C2, a business of Cassava Technologies, a global technology leader, today announced a new reseller partnership agreement with KnowBe4, a global leader in digital workforce security, securing both humans and AI agents. Through this partnership, Liquid C2 will bring KnowBe4’s training and risk management solutions to enterprise customers across Africa.

 




  

“At Liquid C2, we understand that employees are the first and best line of defence from cybersecurity attacks for any organisation. They are the foundation of a digitally resilient organisation. Employees need the skills and awareness to spot threats early, and by working with KnowBe4, we are strengthening the human side of our cybersecurity services. Cybersecurity is no longer just a compliance exercise, it is a business continuity imperative. Our partnership will ensure our customers have access to global cybersecurity training and an experience customised for staff at all levels of client organisations” said Vinay Hiralall, Chief Commercial Officer at Liquid C2.

We look forward to working with Liquid C2 to deliver KnowBe4’s platform to even more organisations across Africa

KnowBe4 is an addition to Liquid C2’s Secure360 portfolio with ongoing security awareness, phishing simulations, and risk management capabilities. Secure360’s unified framework covers governance, protection, detection and response, while the partnership adds capabilities that help organisations address employee-related security risks.

Additionally, the KnowBe4 platform includes attack simulation and training, email and collaboration security, and agent security powered by its Artificial Intelligence Defence Agents (AIDA). KnowBe4 maintains a robust partner programme that helps organisations worldwide strengthen their      workforce security capabilities.

“We look forward to working with Liquid C2 to deliver KnowBe4’s platform to even more organisations across Africa,” said Kurt Mills, SVP of global channel at KnowBe4. “By integrating KnowBe4’s high-quality, world-class platform with our existing security services, we can now deliver comprehensive protection that combines technological safeguards with digital workforce security. This partnership represents our commitment to providing customers with the most effective methods to build a security-conscious culture and significantly reduce their human and agentic AI-related security risks.”

This offering will be available to small, mid-sized, and large enterprises across Africa, with tailored benefits for regulated sectors like finance, telecoms, and government, where strong cyber security measures are critical to protecting people, systems, and data. Customers will have access to local billing, regional support, onboarding, and compliance assistance specific to their industry needs.

KnowBe4 will be bundled with other Liquid C2 services, including managed cybersecurity which is also available as part of Liquid C2’s Governance, Risk and Compliance offering. This gives organisations greater flexibility to integrate the solution into their existing cybersecurity environments.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Liquid Intelligent Technologies.

 

 




 

Continue Reading

Tech

OPPO Partners with Manus to Bring Agentic AI Experiences to Smartphones

Published

2 days ago

on

October 14, 2026

By

OPPO

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 October 2026 – Global smart device brand OPPO today announced a collaboration with Manus, a leading AI agent platform, to bring next-generation agentic AI experiences to smartphones. By integrating Manus’ agentic capabilities to OPPO AI Mind Pilot, the collaboration will help users turn complex, multi-step tasks into ready-to-use results—advancing OPPO’s vision for Personalized Proactive Intelligence, where AI understands users and proactively helps them get things done.
 




 
“Agentic AI marks an important shift from answering questions to helping users get things done.” said Kai Tang, President of Software Engineering at OPPO. “Together with Manus, we are bringing more proactive and capable experiences to AI Mind Pilot, enabling AI to better understand users’ intentions, take actions and complete tasks. Our goal is to make personal AI a natural part of everyday life and work.”

“Smartphones are central to people’s daily lives and support many of the tasks they handle every day, making them a natural platform for personal AI agents,” said Tao Zhang, Co-Founder & CPO of Manus. “By bringing together Manus’ agentic capabilities and OPPO’s system-level integration, we can make advanced AI agents more accessible and help users complete multi-step tasks through simple, natural interactions.”

Manus Capabilities Debut in AI Mind Pilot’s New Agent Mode

The collaboration will debut through the integration of Manus’ agentic capabilities into AI Mind Pilot’s new Agent Mode on the upcoming OPPO Find X10 Series with ColorOS 17.

Designed to move beyond simple question-and-answer interactions, AI Mind Pilot can understand a user’s end goal, break it down into multiple steps, identify relevant information, select the appropriate tools, and deliver a finished result, including by working directly with files and photos stored on the device.

For example, a user planning a trip could simply ask AI Mind Pilot to organize their travel plans. It can find flight tickets, hotel bookings, restaurant reservations, and attraction tickets scattered across different apps on the smartphone, organize them, and combine them with relevant online information to create a personalized, day-by-day itinerary—without requiring users to manually gather and upload the information.

The same capabilities can support everyday creative and professional tasks. Users can ask AI Mind Pilot to find and organize photos from a trip, locate specific images, or bring together existing files and online information to create a presentation, proposal, portfolio, or other ready-to-use content, all with just one single prompt.

Powerful Agentic AI Built Around User Control and Privacy

As AI moves from providing information to working with personal context and completing tasks, privacy, security, and user control become increasingly important. AI Mind Pilot is designed with these priorities at its core.

ColorOS 17 uses on-device models to understand and organize relevant information locally. For local tasks such as finding, organizing, or renaming files and photos, the original content remains on the device and is not shared with Manus. When a task requires external processing, AI Mind Pilot will ask for the user’s explicit confirmation before relevant content is uploaded or shared.

Users remain in control of what information is accessed, which actions are taken and whether external processing is allowed. Through on-device processing and transparent authorization, OPPO and Manus aim to make agentic AI more capable while maintaining a clear fucus on users’ choice and control.

Launching on OPPO Find X10 Series

The Manus-powered capabilities in AI Mind Pilot will debut on the OPPO Find X10 Series with ColorOS 17. Further details on availability, supported markets, and user benefits will be announced at launch.
 




 

Continue Reading

Trending