YouTube has been #1 in US streaming watch time for nearly three years, according to Nielsen
Verified Confidence: medium
Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.
- Commonly cited as
- "YouTube is the most-watched streaming service on TV"
- True origin
- YouTube (citing Nielsen) — YouTube Press — YouTube by the numbers
- Type
- Reference fact: A frequently needed number or rule taken directly from a primary source (e.g. Pew, Census, IAB/PwC, FTC), with its as-of date.
- Year
- 2026
- Data as of
- Nielsen data as of January 2026
- Last checked
- What the source says
YouTube has been #1 in streaming watchtime in the U.S. for nearly three years. According to Nielsen, as of January 2026.
- Method & sample
- Nielsen's The Gauge measures share of total TV-screen viewing in the US; this page is YouTube's summary of it.
- Drift between quote and source
- Scope: TV-screen streaming share in Nielsen's Gauge, not all YouTube viewing on phones
- Interest
- YouTube is reporting a third-party measurement in its favor.
Safe rephrasing
YouTube, citing Nielsen, says it has led US streaming watch time on TV for nearly three years (as of January 2026).
Sources we opened
- YouTube Press (primary)
Machine-readable: /api/claims/youtube-number-one-streaming-watch-time-us-nielsen.json · Last checked 2026-10-16