YouTube announced that Shorts, its short-form video format, now generates more revenue per watch hour than traditional long-form content. The update was shared during the company’s latest earnings call.
Google’s total earning
YouTube’s parent company, Alphabet, reported approximately $102.35 billion in total revenue for the recent quarter. Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai described the quarter as strong, citing double-digit growth across major divisions of the company. Overall earnings rose 16% year over year, with YouTube ad revenue up 15% and net income reaching $34.98 billion, a 33% increase from the previous year.
Pichai said the company’s continued integration of generative AI across its products and services has contributed significantly to these results.
“We are seeing AI now driving real business results across the company,” Pichi noted.
Shorts’ major contribution
Executives attributed part of this growth to the continued expansion of Shorts, which has seen rising viewership and advertiser interest. The company noted that this report shows the change in consumption patterns as short-form content gains traction across multiple platforms.
Since launching in 2021, YouTube Shorts has become a major focus of the platform’s video strategy, competing with apps like TikTok and Instagram Reels. The monetization model for Shorts was introduced in 2023, and the format has gradually increased its share of ad revenue. While YouTube did not disclose specific earnings figures for Shorts or long-form videos, it confirmed that per-hour revenue has surpassed that of longer uploads for the first time.
The data suggest that advertisers are finding more opportunities within short-form placements, as YouTube continues to expand vertical video integration across devices.