YouTube Shorts Surge: 2 Billion Hours Watched on TVs Monthly
In a remarkable shift in viewing habits, YouTube has reported that its short-form video feature, YouTube Shorts, is now being watched for over 2 billion hours on television screens each month. This trend underscores the growing appetite for short, vertical videos beyond their traditional mobile platform.
Kurt Wilms, YouTube’s Senior Director of Product Management for TV, highlighted this evolution:
The living room is YouTube’s fastest-growing screen, and the Shorts experience is further helping connect viewers with the world’s most active creator community from the comfort of their couch.
This surge is part of a broader movement where viewers are increasingly consuming diverse content types on larger screens. In the United States alone, audiences are watching over 200 million hours of YouTube content daily on their televisions. To cater to this demand, YouTube has integrated Shorts into TV search results, ensuring that even those not specifically seeking short-form content encounter these videos. Additionally, Google TV has introduced a Short videos for you section to further promote this format.
Recognizing the unique challenges of displaying vertical videos on horizontal screens, YouTube has optimized the TV viewing experience by placing comments alongside the video, enhancing interactivity. Sarah Ali, Vice President of Product Management for YouTube Shorts, emphasized the significance of this adaptation:
By tailoring Shorts for the big screen, we unlocked a more immersive way for fans to engage with their favorite content while also creating a massive new stage for creators to reach global audiences and scale their businesses.
The trend extends beyond short videos. Podcasts, traditionally audio-centric, are also gaining traction on television. In 2025, YouTube reported that viewers watched over 700 million hours of podcasts each month on living room devices, a significant increase from 400 million per month in 2024. Streaming platforms are capitalizing on this by investing in video podcasts, aiming to transform them into the modern equivalent of daytime talk shows.
This shift indicates a blurring of lines between content formats and the devices used to consume them. As viewers seek more flexible and diverse viewing experiences, platforms like YouTube are adapting to meet these evolving preferences, ensuring that content is accessible and engaging across all screens.
