\n<\/p>\n
\n\tYouTube ad revenue rose 11% in the first quarter compared with the same period in 2025, flirting with the $10 billion mark.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe ad revenue haul of $9.883 billion was one of many solid parts of parent company Alphabet\u2018s overall quarter. YouTube was cited by the tech giant, along with Google One, as a key factors that drove overall paid subscriptions to 350 million. The company noted in 2025 that YouTube Premium had surpassed 125 million subscribers. Earlier this month, it announced price hikes for the service.<\/p>\n
\n\tTotal revenue at Alphabet increased 22% to $109.9 billion, the 11th second quarter of double-digit gains, while earnings per share boomed 82% to $5.11. The top and bottom line easily beat Wall Street analysts\u2019 consensus forecasts of $107 billion and $2.63, respectively.<\/p>\n
\n\tAlphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in the earnings release that 2026 \u201cis off to a terrific start.\u201d Search queries, driven by AI, hit an all time high and helped revenue climb 19%, he noted.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThis was our strongest quarter ever for our consumer AI plans, driven by the Gemini App,\u201d Pichai added.<\/p>\n
\n\tWaymo, the company\u2019s autonomous vehicle unit, has surpassed 500,000 fully autonomous rides a week, Alphabet said.<\/p>\n
\n\tFor Hollywood, YouTube has been a force to reckon with in recent years as media and entertainment companies have launched streaming services and courted viewer attention. Along with its two-plus decades as a destination for free, ad-supported video, YouTube also is now one of the largest pay-TV operators in the U.S. According to industry estimates, the pay bundle has more than 10 million subscribers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n