YouTube chief Neal Mohan says Netflix is not on his mind, creators are the only priority

YouTube

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan has pushed back against the idea that the company sees Netflix or any other streaming platform as a direct competitor. Speaking at TIME’s A Year in TIME event, where he received the publication’s CEO of the Year honour for 2025, Mohan said YouTube’s mission continues to centre on creators above everything else. He described a company culture where discussions revolve not around rival strategies but around the individuals who publish videos on the platform every day.

During the session, Mohan was asked about comments made by Paramount chief David Ellison, who suggested that his proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. would position the new entity to compete more effectively with YouTube. Mohan downplayed the framing. He said that walking through YouTube’s offices reveals a team that does not organise its thinking around streaming competitors. Instead, he said, employees use the word creator constantly, a reflection of how YouTube sees its role as providing a space for independent talent to showcase their work. According to him, this guiding principle shapes product decisions, policy direction, and long term planning.

Mohan’s remarks come at a time when the entertainment landscape is undergoing some of its most dramatic changes in years. Netflix has agreed to acquire Warner Bros. in a deal worth 82.7 billion dollars, a move that brings HBO, HBO Max, and an extensive catalogue of franchises under its control. Paramount has since made a hostile counteroffer valued at more than 108 billion dollars, signalling a fight for the future of some of the industry’s most recognisable assets. These developments underline the scale of consolidation reshaping Hollywood, yet Mohan insisted YouTube operates in a different category.

He argued that YouTube’s role is not to function like a traditional programming service. Instead, the platform is designed as a stage where creators can build businesses, produce shows, launch careers, and reach global audiences. Over two decades, YouTube has become the most viewed video platform in the world and the launchpad for countless self made personalities across genres such as commentary, gaming, education, lifestyle, and podcasting. Mohan said that the company’s workforce is dominated by technologists whose mandate is to improve the tools that connect creators to viewers rather than compete in the premium content race.

His perspective signals that YouTube sees itself less as a streaming service and more as foundational infrastructure for online creativity. While Netflix, Disney, and others engage in mergers, catalogue expansion, and exclusive licensing, YouTube’s strategic focus remains on supporting independent creators and maintaining the scale that has made it central to global video consumption.