TV set is most popular way to watch YouTube in UK, study finds

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Michael Savage Media editorFebruary 19, 2026 at 07:00 AM

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A recent Barb Audiences review found that TV sets are now the most popular device for watching YouTube in UK homes, surpassing laptops, tablets, and smartphones. This trend, which became dominant across all age groups by December 2024, highlights YouTube's growing presence in the living room. While YouTube viewing is popular among children, live TV still accounts for a significant portion (45% in December 2025) of viewing on TV sets, driven by events like sports and popular entertainment programs. The data suggests a rebalancing of viewing habits rather than a complete shift away from traditional television. The rise of YouTube has prompted media regulator Ofcom to encourage public service broadcasters to increase their presence on the platform, leading the BBC to create content specifically for YouTube.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Women’s Euro 2025 30% ITV 40% BBC ×240% BBC One 50% Channel 4 50% Ofcom 50% Justin Sampson 60% Barb Audiences 70% United Kingdom 90% YouTube ×11100%

Keywords

youtube viewing 100% tv sets 90% traditional television 70% live tv 60% barb audiences 50% streaming platform 50% uk viewers 40% viewing habits 40%

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Neutral

Score: 0.10

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The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

United Kingdom

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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youtube viewing tv sets traditional television live tv barb audiences streaming platform uk viewers viewing habits

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