In Russia
💰 YouTube Spent $100 Billion on Content
At the Series Mania forum, YouTube's Head for France and Southern Europe Justine Rist revealed striking figures: since 2021, the platform has paid content creators over $100 billion.
That’s $20 billion more than Netflix’s direct production investments over the same period.
YouTube doesn’t replace TV but complements it. The service has become the “first screen” in the U.S. and the second most important in France and the U.K.
Paid TV actively leverages the platform for promotion. For instance, releasing first episodes of original projects brought Canal+ 7% new subscribers and Sky Italia 8.7%.
YouTube creators are increasingly becoming professional producers, blurring lines between online video and major cinema.
Rist highlighted the unique business model: unlike online cinemas that commission content upfront, YouTube redistributes over 50% of its revenue to creators, positioning itself as the primary distribution and talent discovery platform in 2026.
