Netflix Q1 proves its resilience amid economic volatility: Strong revenue growth is setting the company up to weather uncertainty.

This is the Q1 2025 installment of our quarterly “Ad Spending Benchmarks” series, which helps ad buyers and sellers calibrate their spending and revenue mix against the market.

Netflix’s AI search test takes aim at content fatigue: By letting users search more intuitively, Netflix hopes to edge out rivals and helps viewers navigate its library.

Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs landed harder than expected. Uncertainty remains, given the pause on reciprocal tariffs for countries willing to negotiate with the US—along with an escalating trade war with China. Which markets will take the greatest hits? And how might our US forecasts change?

Tariffs are destabilizing Hollywood’s growth: Rising costs and shrinking ad budgets threaten content, licensing, and consumer engagement.

Netflix, Patreon explore podcast potential: As competition in the podcast space heats up, brands are looking for unique value propositions to draw audiences.

YouTube has more users than Facebook, Netflix, or Spotify. But its advertising revenues do not match its vast reach. This report contextualizes the opportunities and scope for growth in various media spheres.

Why CPMs are falling at Upfronts: Increased inventory and viewership is causing streamers to soften prices during the buying season.

YouTube nears top spot in media revenue: The video giant is expected to overtake Disney (excluding parks), leading the global media industry.

Podcasts represent a small, but growing, revenue stream for creators. Brands want in on creator-led podcasts, especially as video becomes a more crucial component of podcasting. But both sides face challenges over concerns related to scale, brand safety, and ad loads.

Original content still drives growth: “Adolescence” proves Netflix can win with high-quality dramas that spark cultural conversation and dominate viewer engagement.

Younger consumers increasingly prefer creator content over TV, film: A Deloitte study indicates that advertisers need to rethink their strategies to remain competitive.

Netflix wants to turn your TV into a game console: By ditching AAA ambitions and betting on casual, connected TV games controlled by phones, Netflix is playing the long game to capture Gen Z gamers.

YouTube tops TV rankings: Nielsen’s February data shows YouTube capturing 11.6% of TV viewing, overtaking Disney and redefining the streaming landscape.

While Apple TV+ lost money, Services revenue hit $96.2 billion in 2024—showing Apple’s broader ecosystem is carrying the weight of its content ambitions.

Streaming TV keeps growing, but so does the challenge of reaching viewers. With audiences constantly switching between platforms, old TV advertising methods fall short. A more precise, audience-first approach—borrowed from search and social marketing—is helping advertisers keep up.

AI’s role in Hollywood expands: The Russo brothers' new studio will explore AI-assisted filmmaking AI skepticism persists in the industry.

Netflix sells out WWE Raw sponsorships: Ad inventory is booked for months, proving brands see value in wrestling.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss why Netflix viewers are spending less time on the platform, how the free ad-supported streaming players are getting on, and how a less discussed social platform has fast become one of the places Americans spend most of their social media time. Tune in to the episode with Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Principal Forecasting Writer Ethan Cramer-Flood, Senior Forecasting Analyst Zach Goldner, and Senior Director of Forecasting, Oscar Orozco. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Subscription OTT streaming is one of only a few media categories still seeing meaningful time spent growth in the US. The major platforms are heading in different directions, however.