TV set is primary device for YouTube viewing, says CEO Neal Mohan

In a blog to mark the 20th anniversary of YouTube, titled ‘Our big bets for 2025’, Mohan said that TV has surpassed mobile for YouTube viewing in the US by watch time. Citing Nielsen, Mohan also said that YouTube has been the biggest streaming platform in terms of watch time in the US for two years. Viewers are watching, on average, over one billion hours of YouTube content on TV daily.

Mohan said that YouTube is the new television: “But the “new" television doesn’t look like the "old" television. It’s interactive and includes things like shorts (yes, people watch them on TVs), podcasts, and live streams, right alongside the sports, sitcoms and talk shows people already love.”

The YouTube CEO also touted the impact of AI, saying it will make it easier for creators to make and enhance content. He cited the launch last year of auto dubbing, which helps creators translate their videos into multiple languages. Mohan said that for videos with dubbed audio, more than 40% of the total watch time comes from viewers choosing to listen in a dubbed language.

“As impressive as the generative models are, creators tell us they're most excited about the ways AI can help with their bread-and-butter production,” said Mohan.