To say that Netflix is having a renaissance would be somewhat inaccurate, since in order to have a renaissance, you first have to have a down period. The streamer hasn’t had one of those in some time, but it continues to pile up accomplishments. The latest comes in the form of data from Nielsen, which shows that the streamer is now in the top three of all media distribution companies.

Netflix is behind only YouTube and Disney in Nielsen’s chart measuring monthly TV viewing by distributor, and accounted for 8.3% of watching in the month. Its presence in the third position is all the more impressive considering its viewership comes just from its streaming platform, whereas Disney and YouTube both have multiple outlets that contribute to their viewership.

Time spent watching streaming content was up more than 5% in June as compared to May, but Netflix outdistanced that figure by seeing a 13.5% jump in viewership in the same timeframe. A new season of “Ginny & Georgia” and the release of “Squid Game” Season 3 at the end of the month were big parts of Netflix’s success.

This is the first time that Netflix has climbed into the top three of Nielsen’s Media Distributor Gauge. This measurement tool tracks viewership acquired by companies across multiple sources; Disney’s number, for example, includes viewership on streamers like Disney+ and Hulu, as well as linear channels such as ABC and ESPN.

Despite declines by cable and broadcast during the month, linear TV helped Disney accrue 10% of monthly viewing. ABC affiliates accounted for each of the top 33 broadcast telecasts last month, thanks in large part to the 2025 NBA Finals as well as ABC World News Tonight.

YouTube saw a 6% monthly viewing increase over May, widening its lead to the largest amount ever. June is the fifth month in a row that YouTube has sat atop the rankings, proving the staying power of the social video platform as it continues to dominate on-demand streamers.

The summer of streaming will continue at least through the start of football season, but don’t expect a big fall-off from Netflix this fall. New seasons of “Wednesday” and “Stranger Things” in the coming months should help the streamer continue a strong year, and it will likely close out 2025 riding the same hot streak it’s on this summer.

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Netflix

Netflix is a leading subscription-based video streaming service that offers on-demand access to an extensive library of over 3,000 movies, 2,000+ TV shows, and a growing collection of acclaimed Netflix originals. Renowned for producing groundbreaking content, Netflix has become a cultural powerhouse with hit originals like “Stranger Things,” “Wednesday,” “Squid Game,” “The Crown,” “Tiger King,” “Bridgerton,” “The Witcher,” and “Black Mirror.”

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The platform constantly updates its catalog, introducing fresh content alongside timeless classics and international hits. Netflix’s commitment to storytelling has also earned critical acclaim, with award-winning exclusives such as “Roma,” “Marriage Story,” “The Power of the Dog,” “Mank,” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” In 2023, their animated film “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, further solidifying Netflix’s reputation for high-quality content.

Recently, Netflix has expanded beyond standard movies and TV titles with the addition of video podcasts, and is also exploring a digital store that would offer third-party streamers within the app.

Netflix offers three plans – stream on 2 devices in HD with the “Standard with Ads” ($8.99) plan, on 2 devices in HD with the “Standard” ($19.99) plan, and 4 devices in up to 4K on the “Premium” ($26.99) plan.

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