When it comes to the streaming wars, we automatically look at the big powerhouses of Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ as the big players in the industry. However, new data from analysts AppAnnie has revealed who the true winner of the streaming wars is – and it’s not even close, with Google’s YouTube service easily dominating its competition taking more screen time than the other streaming services combined:
With YouTube dominating 70 percent of time spent in the top five streaming apps, the platform proves that it is still holding its weight among the acceleration of new video streaming platforms — particularly as it was an early pioneer in the market.
While we may not refer to YouTube as a streaming service given its very different approach and target market, the truth is that when it comes to catching people’s attention on screens, it dominates. Its success might be built on small videos and perceived lower quality entertainment than those big giants, but it can draw viewership numbers the other companies can only dream of. And it’s making a big profit, unlike those others who are still spending loads of money to create new and exciting content.
YouTube’s ultimate advantage is that it is free. That it has had a massive head start on the rest and has millions creating content for it without them needing to pay money upfront helps. It will be interesting to see as our viewing patterns change if YouTube’s dominance will just continue to grow or if the other big streaming service will steal that screen time away as people thirst for higher quality content.
Last Updated: February 14, 2020
Caveshen Rajman
February 14, 2020 at 15:23
Weird way to spell Amazon.
konfab
February 14, 2020 at 15:23
Tend to agree with this. The sheer amount of diversity of content on Youtube blows everything else out the water. Which is why I think the best value for money streaming service is Youtube premium.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 14, 2020 at 16:39
What an asinine comparison. Yes it’s a streaming video platform, but it’s content profile is completely different to that of a Netflix, Amazon, etc.
This is like looking at the total amount of PCs sold compared to consoles then saying PC blows them out of the water when it comes to gaming, while ignoring the fact that the vast majority of PCs sold aren’t used for gaming.
Pariah
February 14, 2020 at 19:18
At least one person here makes sense. I was thinking exactly this.
Hammersteyn
February 14, 2020 at 20:33
But if the argument was valid then Pornhub would be the clear winner
Kromas
February 17, 2020 at 07:24
My favorite shows are long running shows on YouTube like Neebs gamings Ark and 7 Days to die series.