YouTube CEO Neil Mohan has announced that TV screens have officially overtaken smartphones as the "primary device for watching YouTube" in the United States. In his annual letter, Mohan called this event proof that "YouTube is the new television," according to the Hollywood Reporter.
"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," Mohan emphasized.
At the same time, YouTube continues to dominate the streaming platform market, consistently ranking first in the monthly Nielsen's Gauge report, ahead of competitors such as Netflix. TV viewing has become a strategic priority for the platform, and last year the number of YouTube TV subscribers (analogous to cable TV) exceeded 8 million.
In addition to the focus on television, Mohan outlined three main priorities for YouTube in 2025:
1. The epicenter of culture:
Mohan emphasized YouTube's role in covering key cultural and global events. From the 45 million Americans who watched election-related content to viral moments like Joe Rogan's interview with President Trump or Kamala Harris' SNL sketch, YouTube remains a real-time entertainment hub. The company plans to introduce more tools throughout the year to support podcasters, improve monetization for creators, and make podcasts easier to find.
2. Artificial intelligence for content creators:
Mohan announced YouTube's growing investment in AI-powered tools to simplify the creative process. "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. That’s why we’re investing in tools to help them in the everyday work of creation, like coming up with a new video idea, title or thumbnail," he said. One of the key features is an auto-dubbing tool that translates videos into multiple languages. This tool, which currently accounts for more than 40% of the time viewers watch dubbed videos, will soon be available to all creators in the YouTube Partner Program.
3. Global events on YouTube:
Mohan emphasized YouTube's role in broadcasting important events such as the Olympics, Super Bowl, and Cricket World Cup. Calling it the platform's ability to bring together a global audience in real time.
"From elections to entertainment, YouTube is where the world's biggest events happen," Mohan said, emphasizing the platform's intention to expand its influence in both content creation and cultural relevance.
With televisions now the dominant device for American viewers, and with new tools and features for creators, the future of YouTube seems firmly in viewers' living rooms, and soon the platform's new focus on big screens could be felt by users around the world.