Once known primarily for short-form content on mobile devices, YouTube has now become a dominant player in TV streaming, surpassing traditional streaming platforms and services. Viewers are watching, on average, over 1B hours of YouTube content on TVs daily, and TV is now the primary device for YouTube viewing in the U.S.

While most of the discussion around online video content is mostly around easily digestible vertical videos, we cannot overlook how YouTube is taking over the biggest screen in your household. And with this shift in the digital media landscape comes a host of new opportunities and possibilities!

YouTube’s transformation from a mobile-first platform to a TV powerhouse is backed by impressive numbers:

YouTube accounts for 88.6% of all TV streaming time, while Netflix lags at 7.9%.

TV watch time on YouTube has increased by 400% in recent years.

YouTube receives 28.5 billion visits per month, dwarfing Netflix’s 1.9 billion.

These figures highlight an undeniable shift—YouTube is the new television, and the living room has become the platform’s fastest-growing audience.

While Netflix and other services remain strong contenders, the lack of community engagement, higher costs, and limited content variety make it increasingly difficult to compete with the flexibility and personalization of YouTube on TV.

But why is this happening? Our creator John delves into this question at brilliant depths in the video above, so watch it now!

YouTube talked about their big bets for 2025

, among which they've discussed the rise of YouTube consumption on television. There are several reasons for this tectonic shift in the viewing habits of the audience, but a few of them stand out:

Unlike Netflix and other subscription-based platforms, YouTube TV channels offer an ever-expanding library of user-generated and professional content. Whether it’s binge content, live streams, educational tutorials, long-form, or even Shorts, YouTube delivers a personalized and diverse entertainment experience that traditional TV struggles to match.

Other platforms offer a passive viewing experience, whereas YouTube TV fosters real engagement. Viewers can like, comment, and interact with creators, forming deeper connections. Features like live chat, community posts, and membership perks help YouTube TV channels build dedicated communities, increasing loyalty and repeat watch time.

How to Use the YouTube Community Tab and Engage with Viewers

Popular streaming services are losing ground due to subscription fatigue. YouTube, on the other hand, has free access supported by ads, making it more attractive to budget-conscious audiences.

You can pay for YouTube Premium and go ad-free, and that would give creators a share of the revenue too. With its flexible pricing model, YouTube on TV has positioned itself as a more accessible and cost-effective alternative to traditional streaming platforms.

Unlike static content catalogs of other streamers, YouTube’s recommendation system keeps users engaged with fresh, tailored content based on their interests. This dynamic approach ensures that YouTube TV channels remain highly discoverable, encouraging audiences to keep watching binge content-for hours.

Understanding the YouTube Algorithm in 2024

YouTube has paid out over $70 billion to creators in the past three years, making it the leading platform for content monetization.

Ad revenue through the YouTube Partner Program

Channel memberships and Super Chats for direct viewer support

Merchandise and affiliate marketing integrations

For creators, YouTube on TV presents a massive opportunity to generate revenue while building a loyal fan base.

YouTube Monetization: How to Make Money from Videos in 2024

YouTube is one of the few platforms that has a significant presence on all your devices regularly. Whether it's the YouTube TV app that lets you easily access content on television or cast your phone on your TV screen, the ecosystem is inclusive and totally seamless.

With more people streaming YouTube TV channels on the big screen, content creators must adapt their strategies to maximize engagement and growth. 

Since more users are watching YouTube on TV, creators should produce high-quality, visually appealing content that looks great on large displays.

Filming in 1080p or 4K for crystal-clear visuals

Using bold thumbnails and large fonts for easy readability on TV screens

Creating long-form videos that encourage binge content consumption

Making binge-able content for TV viewers is one of the most important strategies to keep in mind here. You can make your viewer's life much easier by making playlists that keep them hooked!

Many users watch YouTube TV on their television while using their phone for interaction. Creators can capitalize on this second-screen behavior by using the "watch with" feature that

Encourage viewers to comment and participate in live polls

Promote exclusive content through community posts and social media

Direct audiences to merchandise stores and affiliate links

YouTube’s algorithm thrives on watch time and viewer engagement. To increase visibility on YouTube TV channels, creators should:

Focus on long-form videos that keep viewers engaged

Use SEO-friendly video titles and descriptions

Encourage likes, shares, and comments to boost discoverability

 is a subscription-based streaming service that includes 100+ broadcast, cable, and regional sports networks. Unlike regular YouTube, it provides live TV streaming, cloud DVR capabilities, and local channel access. You can also see trending videos on YouTube TV.

Recently YouTube TV has agreed to a deal with Paramount

 to include big channels like CBS, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and MTV. 

As of now, YouTube TV has over 8 million paying subscribers. In the video above, the YouTube team will tell you how to sign up for this service in simple steps. Currently, it's only available in the US.

All the things we've discussed here point to the glaring truth: 

 For the generations to come, YouTube might be the only definition of TV. So, strategize your content accordingly and get that 

YouTube has become the most popular destination for major TV audiences. Learn how that happened and what it means.

The Rise of YouTube on TV

YouTube has introduced a major update called "

", allowing your real followers to engage with a channel beyond just watching videos. This feature enables subscribers to post content on a channel’s 

, inciting discussions, sharing artwork, and networking with other viewers. However, while it provides exciting engagement opportunities, it also brings several challenges, especially concerning moderation and usability.

Rob takes us through the entire update in the video above. Let’s discuss the most important aspects of this latest news!

The Communities Feature is an expansion of engagement tools that allow subscribers to create posts on a channel’s Community Tab and interact with creators directly. Until now, only channel owners could post updates, polls, and discussions here. 

However, with this update, subscribers can also contribute to the community, which was the primary intent behind this 

Subscribers can post content made by them, such as text and images, on a creator's community page.

 Creators can allow or restrict posting based on subscriber status and set a minimum subscription duration before users can post.

Unlike creator posts, viewer posts are confined to the Community Tab and do not appear in general YouTube feeds.

YouTube is rolling out this feature through an invite-only system. Creators who receive an invitation can activate it via a mobile device. Clicking the invitation link on a desktop does not work as of now. On your mobile device, you might get a prompt like this

Community settings for viewer posts and post moderation on YouTube mobile app

Moderation tools to restrict posting privileges.

The ability to sort posts by "Viewer posts" and "Mention".

4 Tips to Promote Your Channel on the YouTube Community Tab

Since the feature allows anyone to post, moderation is a significant challenge. YouTube has implemented basic spam control mechanisms:

Users must be subscribed for at least one day or one week before posting.

Creators can disable viewer comments on posts.

Auto-moderation filters some posts, but many still require manual review.

Despite these measures, channels are already experiencing massive volumes of viewer posts—with some channels receiving 250+ posts in just three days.

Unlike official channel-created community posts, viewer-generated posts do not show up on the YouTube home feed, limiting their visibility. This has resulted in very low engagement for most user-generated posts, as:

Subscribers recognize and engage with official creator posts.

Viewer posts do not align with the channel's general audience interest.

YouTube does not promote these posts beyond the Community Tab.

YouTube has added a new analytics section called “Viewer Posts” in the YouTube Studio. However, data inconsistencies have been reported, including:

Impressions dropping significantly after enabling the feature.

Engagement metrics not reflecting actual interactions.

Unreliable data tracking, making it difficult for creators to assess post-performance.

The new Community Feature does not directly impact a channel’s subscriber growth or video views. Instead, it serves as a discussion hub where users can interact beyond video content.

This feature may add a lot of value for creators who enjoy community engagement. It’s the perfect way for like-minded subscribers to exchange thoughts and ideas with one another and incredible for the community faithful to interact directly with the creator for the first time!

This potential influx of ideas from your core community might improve your content greatly too. However, for those concerned about moderation workload and spam, it might be best to wait for improvements before enabling it. YouTube needs to improve moderation tools and discoverability to make this feature truly beneficial.

Overall, this looks like a fun change, and we’ll have to wait and watch how it impacts your

Covering the latest YouTube Communities update that will evolve the community tab interactions and improve connections for fans, by fans.

YouTube Communities: Connect with Creators

YouTube Average View Duration (AVD) is one of the most crucial metrics to monitor for any YouTube creator serious about growing their channel. It is one of the most misunderstood yet influential figures in YouTube analytics. Many creators misinterpret AVD, leading to incorrect assumptions about audience engagement and video performance.

In this excerpt from our podcast, Travis and Jenn break down what Average View Duration really means, how it impacts content strategy, and why analyzing retention graphs is essential, and why a deeper analysis of what is a good average view duration on YouTube matters for long-term success.

How to Get Subscriber Feedback from a YouTube Analytics Deep Dive

Let’s dive into the world of YouTube analytics and retention strategies.

Average View Duration represents the average time viewers spend watching a video. Mathematically, YouTube Average View Duration (AVD) is calculated as follows:

Average View Duration= Total Watch Time / Total Number of Views

However, it’s important to remember that AVD does not mean every viewer watched for that exact duration. Some may have watched the full video, while others left after just a few seconds.

Imagine you upload a 10-minute video that gets 10 views:

5 viewers watch the entire video (10 minutes each).

5 viewers drop off after only 2 minutes each.

Total watch time = (5 × 10) + (5 × 2) = 60 minutes.

This does not mean every viewer watched for 6 minutes—some watched till the end, while others dropped off early. On the YouTube Creator Studio, you can find this number expressed in different ways.

, you can filter Average view duration in reference to

You can also view average view duration for a specific video. Click on the Analytics tab on a given video in YouTube Studio

Scroll down a little bit and you can see the average view duration for the video

Average view duration for a specific video

Many creators think of Average View Duration (AVD) as a median value and that causes all the confusion. So, let's clear this up conceptually.

Affected by outliers. If some viewers leave after a few seconds, the AVD drops.

Represents the middle value—half of the audience watched longer than this duration, and half watched less.

For example, if your AVD is 6 minutes, but your median view duration is 8 minutes, it means most of your audience stayed for longer than 6 minutes, and a few people leaving early dragged the average down. Thus, relying only on AVD without analyzing retention graphs can be misleading.

A key factor that influences AVD is whether a viewer is new or a returning subscriber. It's understandable that subscribers tend to watch longer because they are already familiar with your content.

New viewers, on the other hand, may leave earlier if they are unsure about the creator or the topic. By checking Watch Time Analytics, you can compare AVD for subscribers vs. non-subscribers and adjust your content strategy accordingly.

If your non-subscribers have a significantly lower AVD, you may need a stronger video hook to keep them engaged. And, if your subscribers watch longer, focus on encouraging more subscriptions to improve overall retention.

Since AVD is an average, it should not be the only metric to evaluate viewer retention. Instead, creators should combine this metric with retention graphs to get a clearer picture.

Why Subscribers Aren't Watching Your YouTube Videos (And How to Fix It)

 If a section has high replays, it means viewers found that part engaging.

 If your AVD is 5 minutes, making a 7-minute video may work better than cutting content too short.

A YouTuber tested retention by asking viewers a question at the end of the video:
"Do you prefer crunchy or smooth peanut butter?"
Surprisingly, many viewers answered in the comments—proving that AVD alone did not reflect full retention. Some users skipped ahead but still engaged with the content.

A common misconception is that your video length should match your AVD. This is not true.

If your AVD is 5 minutes, making a 5-minute video does not guarantee that every viewer will watch the entire thing.

A 7- to 10-minute video might be optimum YouTube video length because even if viewers don’t finish it, they may stay engaged longer than your current AVD. The best YouTube video length is one that keeps viewers engaged while maximizing watch time.

Tutorials, vlogs, and reviews often have longer AVD than entertainment clips.

If your audience stays for an average of 7 minutes, experiment with slightly longer videos.

Longer watch time contributes to YouTube’s ranking signals, making your video more likely to be recommended.

What is a Good Average Percentage Viewed on YouTube?

Essentially, Average View Duration expressed as a percentage is represented as follows:

This metric tells how much of your video, on average, was watched in terms of a percentage.

A 10-minute video with an AVD of 6 minutes has an APV of 60%, which is above average.

If APV is below 50%, it suggests viewers lose interest too quickly—you may need better pacing, editing, or storytelling.

In order to improve the average, you need to focus on the total time watched on your content. Therefore, watch time is an important metric to monitor. 

 Change visuals or storytelling style to keep viewers engaged.

How to Increase Audience Retention on Every YouTube Video

✅ AVD is an average, meaning some viewers watch more and some less.
✅ Retention graphs provide a clearer picture of when and why viewers leave.
✅ Subscribers watch longer, so increasing subscriptions can boost AVD.
✅ A slightly longer video (7+ minutes) can optimize retention compared to shorter ones.
✅ Engagement tests (comment prompts, polls) help confirm actual viewership.
✅ A good APV (50%+) indicates strong retention.

So, the next time you check your YouTube Average View Duration, remember: It’s not about getting the highest number—it’s about understanding why people stay and why they leave. When you start analyzing your retention graphs strategically, you’ll unlock powerful insights to boost watch time, improve content quality, and grow your YouTube success.

Now, go optimize your next video and keep your 

Get a complete understanding of one of the key metrics for YouTube growth--average view duration, and how to get that increased.

Understanding YouTube Average View Duration

Creating content that truly connects with an audience isn’t just about having great ideas—it’s about understanding who you’re speaking to. The more you know about your audience, the more relevant and engaging your content becomes. 

One of the best ways to achieve this level of understanding is by developing a viewer avatar, that is, 

a detailed representation of an ideal audience member

. In the video above, our expert creators Travis and Jenn tackle this concept and explain it in detail. But, first, we'll start with the basics.

How to Grow Your YouTube Channel in 2025: The Ultimate Guide

A viewer avatar is essentially the ideal viewer of your content. It’s a fictional yet research-backed profile that represents a content creator's target audience's demographic, psychographic, and behavioral traits. Rather than trying to appeal to everyone, defining a specific avatar allows creators to craft content that feels personalized, relevant, and engaging.

Think of it this way: If you were telling a story to a close friend, you’d tailor it to their interests, humor, and background. A viewer avatar works the same way—it helps you create content that speaks directly to your audience’s world.

Conceptualizing a viewer avatar from scratch isn't an easy task. But a simple way to get started is by creating a fresh YouTube account. On this account, you need to watch as many videos as possible on your niche. 

How to Start a YouTube Channel: 10 Brilliant Tips

This might give you an overview of what your ideal viewer wants, but there's always more depth to it. To develop a viewer avatar that truly enhances your content strategy, you’ll need to consider several crucial elements:

You can find details on your audience demographics in the 

 on YouTube Creator Studio. Demographics help form the backbone of your avatar by answering fundamental questions about who they are:

Understanding the age range of your audience helps determine content tone, references, and complexity.

While not always a primary factor, gender can influence interests and engagement styles.

Where your viewers live affects cultural references, language nuances, and time zone considerations.

This helps shape the depth and complexity of your content.

Knowing what your audience does for work can provide insight into their lifestyle, daily challenges, and available free time for consuming content.

Psychographics go beyond surface-level details and dive into what makes your audience tick. Asking the following questions will help you understand your viewers on a deeper level.

 What topics, hobbies, and themes do they care about most?

 What principles guide their decision-making and worldview?

Are they students, professionals, parents, or travelers? How do they spend their free time?

Knowing what they love to do in their spare time can help shape content ideas that feel naturally engaging.

Are they introverts or extroverts? Do they prefer deep analytical discussions or quick, entertaining snippets?

Understanding how your audience interacts with content helps refine your approach:

Do they prefer long-form deep dives or short, snappy videos? Do they watch content daily or binge-watch in bursts?

Are they drawn to humorous, educational, dramatic, or visually stunning videos?

Are they active commenters, passive lurkers, or enthusiastic sharers?

What challenges do they face, and how can your content provide solutions?

People engage with content for specific emotional reasons. Understanding these motivations helps create more impactful material:

Do they resonate with callbacks to past trends, childhood experiences, or historical references?

Are they seeking knowledge, skill-building, or insights into a particular topic?

Do they primarily consume content for laughs, excitement, or an escape from reality?

Are they looking for motivation, self-improvement, or emotional support?

6 Emotional Triggers That Unlock Massive YouTube Views

Not sure how to pinpoint your ideal viewer? Here are some effective ways to gather insights:

Directly ask your audience about their interests, preferences, and behaviors.

Analyze interactions on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to spot recurring themes.

Study audiences of successful creators in your niche and see what resonates with them.

Read through audience discussions to identify trends in feedback, common questions, and recurring themes.

Engage directly with small groups of viewers to gain deeper qualitative insights

Developing a viewer avatar isn’t just an exercise but a foundational step that can transform your content strategy. Listening to your community gives you the power to adapt and create content that really resonates.

The more you refine and adapt based on your avatar’s needs, the stronger your connection with your audience will become. Your content will not just inform, it will inspire! If you're looking for 

Would you like to know the mind of your ideal viewer? Here, we'll discuss how to create that practically and much more.

How To Make a Viewer Avatar for YouTube

Small creators have struggled to gain traction on YouTube for years, overshadowed by massive, well-established channels. The algorithm seemed to favor big names, bringing them more views and watch time, which left newcomers feeling like they were shouting into the void.

But things are changing and YouTube is making a concerted effort to push new creators, giving them a real shot at success.

You may have noticed one or two videos recently on your own YouTube homepage with very few views from totally new creators. In the video above, Rob points out a few of these instances on YouTube and examines what this could all mean for smaller creators.

10 Things Every Small YouTube Channel Can Improve

 has always been a mystery, but one thing is clear: the platform thrives on 

 Viewers constantly crave something new, and YouTube knows that relying solely on veteran creators isn't sustainable.

Small channels getting recommended on YouTube homepage

Now, the recommendation system actively prioritizes new content from up-and-coming channels, ensuring a steady influx of fresh perspectives. This shift has opened doors for small creators, allowing them to compete with bigger names like never before.

The Secret to Standing Out as a Small YouTube Creator

The Biggest Challenge of Being a Small Creator

While YouTube is making it easier for new creators to get noticed, growth isn’t automatic. Social proof makes all the difference when it comes to clicking on videos for viewers. People naturally trust videos with higher engagement. A video with 

, even if the content quality is the same.

This can lead to a vicious cycle where the lack of visibility keeps hindering your growth and your content keeps getting pushed further back in the recommendation queue. So, it’s important to constantly improve all aspects of your content creation process steadily to avoid the trap!

Overcoming this initial credibility gap is tough, but not impossible. Smart creators use click-worthy thumbnails, compelling titles, and strong storytelling to make people want to watch—regardless of subscriber count.

1. User Engagement and the Demand for Fresh Content

Think about traditional television—networks like Fox wouldn't rely on a single aging show like The Simpsons forever. They introduce new series to keep viewers engaged.

YouTube operates the same way. If it only pushed the biggest channels, the platform would become stale. By promoting new and small creators, YouTube ensures that fresh, diverse content keeps audiences entertained.

2. Algorithm Bias Toward Emerging Channels

Believe it or not, YouTube tracks how well new creators perform. If small channels never gained traction, the platform would risk stagnation.

To prevent this, the algorithm actively boosts new creators—especially those producing high-retention content that keeps viewers watching. This means small creators who focus on engaging storytelling, clear delivery, and audience retention can leverage YouTube’s algorithm to their advantage.

YouTube’s recommendation system now works smarter than ever. If a viewer watches content within a specific niche, the algorithm is more likely to suggest videos from lesser-known creators in that same category.

For example, if someone binge-watches finance tutorials, YouTube won’t just recommend content from creators like Graham Stephan, just because they get high numbers. Instead, it will surface relevant content from small but promising channels that align with that interest.

This is huge for small creators because if you’re creating high-quality content in a niche, your videos have a real chance of being discovered.

YouTube doesn’t just promote big channels; it listens to the audience. If viewers engage with a video by watching longer, clicking on recommendations, or subscribing, the algorithm takes that as a signal to push that creator’s content further.

This means that small creators who deliver value, hold attention, and spark engagement can quickly rise even without a massive following.

How to Leverage YouTube’s Push for New Creators

Want to maximize your chances of getting promoted by YouTube? Here are three key strategies:

create a separate YouTube account that watches only videos in your niche.

 By doing this, you train YouTube’s algorithm to recognize your content as relevant to that topic.

For example, if you create content about personal finance, use this dummy account to watch finance-related videos from other small creators. Over time, YouTube will start associating your channel with that niche—giving you a better shot at getting recommended.

YouTube is promoting new creators on the platform and you can capitalize on the chance to make yourself seen. Check out the blog to know how!

Posts Written By Uttaran Samaddar

The Rise of YouTube on TV

YouTube Communities: Connect with Creators

Understanding YouTube Average View Duration

How To Make a Viewer Avatar for YouTube

Why New Creators are Being Pushed by YouTube in 2025

The Free Subscribers Formula: Why Malpractices Harm Your Channel

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