YouTube CEO Neal Mohan has made headlines after publicly brushing off competition from streaming giants like Netflix, stating that YouTube operates in a completely different category. Mohan made these remarks during the “A Year in TIME” panel in December 2025, where he was honored as TIME’s CEO of the Year.
YouTube’s Focus: Creators, Not Competitors
When asked about Netflix and other streaming platforms, Mohan emphasized that YouTube employees do not think in terms of traditional competitors. Instead, the company’s internal culture is built around the creator ecosystem.
According to Mohan, walking through YouTube’s offices reveals a single dominant theme:
“You will hear the term ‘creator’ a hundred times a day in every one of our meetings.”
He stressed that conversations about Netflix simply don’t take place within YouTube’s walls. Their mission is not to win Hollywood-style battles but to continuously support millions of creators who rely on the platform.
Why YouTube Is Different from Netflix and Hollywood
Mohan drew a firm line between YouTube and traditional streaming services. Netflix, he explained, is essentially a programmer a company that curates and finances a fixed catalog of content. YouTube, on the other hand, is a platform whose purpose is to build the stage for creators.
He stated:
“Our job is to build the stage on which amazing creators do what they do every single day.”
Most YouTube employees, he noted, are technologists, not studio executives. Their mission is to empower talent, not decide what content gets greenlit.
Industry Consolidation Highlights the Difference
Mohan’s comments came during a period of massive upheaval in the entertainment industry. Netflix had just struck a historic $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros.’ studio and streaming assets, followed almost immediately by a $108.4 billion counterbid from Paramount.
When asked whether these mega-mergers would make rivals more competitive against YouTube, Mohan dismissed the idea. He reiterated that consolidation battles in Hollywood have nothing to do with YouTube’s open-platform model.
A Pattern of Pushback Against Competitor Claims
This is not the first time Mohan has responded to rivals. His comments echoed a previous exchange with former Netflix co-chief Ted Sarandos, who once suggested YouTube was merely for “killing time.” Mohan countered that only users not executives determine what counts as meaningful content consumption.
Neal Mohan’s remarks underscore YouTube’s belief that it isn’t competing with Netflix at all. Instead, YouTube sees itself as a technology-driven platform built for creators one that grows outside the traditional Hollywood playbook.
