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NBCUniversal Surpasses YouTube in TV Viewership Amid Sports Surge

4/14/2026

Summary

Story summary

In February 2026, NBCUniversal and its spinoff Versant achieved 13.1% of total TV viewing, surpassing YouTube's 12.7%.
This increase resulted from the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics, contributing to a 48% rise in viewership for NBCU-Versant compared to January.
Peacock, NBCU's streaming service, reached its highest share at 3%, with a 64% increase in viewership, largely due to the Super Bowl simulcast, which accounted for over 20% of its audience.
Nielsen delayed its viewing data release due to client backlash over proposed methodology changes but ultimately retained its existing approach for this report.

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Story summary

In February 2026, NBCUniversal and its spinoff Versant achieved 13.1% of total TV viewing, surpassing YouTube's 12.7%.
This increase resulted from the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics, contributing to a 48% rise in viewership for NBCU-Versant compared to January.
Peacock, NBCU's streaming service, reached its highest share at 3%, with a 64% increase in viewership, largely due to the Super Bowl simulcast, which accounted for over 20% of its audience.
Nielsen delayed its viewing data release due to client backlash over proposed methodology changes but ultimately retained its existing approach for this report.