YouTube: Where Americans tuned in for the U.S. election
Dec 12, 2024 – [[read-time]] minute read
This election season, YouTube was a vital resource for millions of Americans seeking election news and information. Leading up to Election Day, voters found essential information prominently displayed across YouTube — on the homepage, in search results, and in recommendations. As of November 30, top news and breaking news shelves on the Home Page featuring authoritative news sources resulted in over 9 billion video impressions, and candidate information panels were surfaced for viewers over 20 million times on related searches in the United States. And on election night, viewers were able to find real-time election results while the night unfolded.
On election day alone, over 45 million viewers across the U.S. watched content related to the election on YouTube.
Traditional news. Independent voices. All in one place.
YouTube served as a one-stop shop for both traditional news channels as well as independent voices. While traditional news outlets continue to thrive on YouTube, this election also saw the rise of independent media and political commentators. Here's the proof:
- Expanding the media landscape: In addition to traditional media giants, political commentators like Megyn Kelly and Brian Tyler Cohen also drew in massive audiences.
- Leveling the playing field: Recognizing this shift in news consumption, political conventions granted creators access to share their first-hand experiences with viewers.
- Authenticity reigned: Long-form, raw footage like unedited interviews and “man-on-the-street” segments resonated with viewers seeking authenticity.
- Streaming the news: On Election night, Fox News saw over 1 million peak concurrent viewers on their live stream followed by NBC News and ABC News. And on YouTube TV, viewers could stay up to date on the election results with multiview across CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and BBC America, giving them the ability to watch multiple channels on one screen.
A shift in news consumption
The 2024 election was the first election where both YouTube Shorts and podcasts were major ways people tuned in. Shorts brought bite-sized political coverage & commentary to the forefront, while podcasts offered in-depth analysis and conversations. This created a dynamic complement to traditional news, profoundly impacting how news and commentary were both consumed and shared.
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Joe Rogan Experience #2219 - Donald Trump
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Vice President Kamala Harris Interview | All the Smoke Special Edition
Connecting with voters
Campaigns embraced YouTube's diverse tools in fresh and engaging ways, from creator collaborations and donut shop visits to rallies and everything in between. They partnered with familiar formats like Wired's Autocomplete Interview and online personalities like Theo Von to connect with voters authentically, with YouTube providing behind-the-scenes access.
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Can I Break 50 With President Donald Trump?
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Kamala Harris Answers The Web's Most Searched Questions | WIRED
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Sen. JD Vance | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #540
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The Manual with Tim Walz | Harris-Walz 2024
Streaming the action
Viewers didn't just turn to YouTube for creator collabs—they came for the main events too. Live streams of the National Conventions, speeches, and debates drew huge audiences. YouTube offered viewers a front-row seat to pivotal moments this election cycle, providing access to live coverage.
- CNN President Debate - Biden vs. Trump: 11 million views
- ABC News Presidential Debate - Harris vs. Trump: 15 million views
- CBS News Vice Presidential Debate: 4.7 million views
- Republican National Convention & Democratic National Convention
The 2024 election proved that as the media landscape evolves, YouTube remains integral to how Americans consume news. We continue to work hard to make YouTube a reliable source for information and an open platform for healthy political discourse.