YouTube becomes the second most popular service in Great Britain

• YouTube has become the second most popular television service in Great Britain.
• The average viewing time on YouTube reached 39 minutes per day.
• Traditional broadcasters have reduced their share of viewing to 56%.

YouTube has become the second most popular domestic television service in Great Britain, surpassing ITV. This has happened due to the increasing number of viewers over the age of 55, who have started watching content on the platform more frequently. According to the latest Ofcom report, YouTube consumption among people over 55 years old has nearly doubled, from six minutes per day in 2023 to twelve minutes in 2024.

Overall, viewers spent an average of 39 minutes per day on YouTube, which is 13% more compared to the previous year. The platform's content increasingly resembles traditional television, with an emphasis on long interviews and game shows.

With the growth of YouTube's popularity among older viewers, the most active users remain young adults aged 16 to 34, who watch an average of 18 minutes per day. The BBC continues to maintain the largest share of overall viewing at 19%, while YouTube occupies 14%.

Traditional broadcasters still account for the majority of viewing at home, but their share has decreased from 71% in 2018 to 56% in 2024. Subscription services, such as iPlayer and ITVX, have also shown an increase in usage.

Ed Layton, interim director of Ofcom, noted that younger viewers are increasingly choosing YouTube as their primary platform for viewing, putting traditional media under threat. Public broadcasters need to adapt to the new conditions to remain relevant.

Tags: Europe/Technology