SNL Ranks No. 1 on YouTube in the U.S. by Reach

In yet another sign of its enduring cultural dominance, a new report shows Saturday Night Live had the top-ranked YouTube channel in the U.S. over the first six months of 2025.

That’s according to new data from media analytics firm Digital i, which found that SNL’s YouTube channel reached 38.6 million U.S. users between January 1 and June 30, 2025, outpacing traditional YouTube heavyweights like ABC News, NBC News, IGN, CNN, ESPN, Netflix, and the NFL.

Notably, most of the site’s other top-ranked channels are round-the-clock content machines posting dozens or even hundreds of videos each week, while SNL airs just one new episode per week during its season. It’s also the only traditional TV show brand to appear on the list, beating top news networks and sports leagues.

Digital i also found that Saturday Night Live was the most-searched term on YouTube in the U.S. over the same period.

Launched in July 2013, SNL’s official YouTube channel has amassed more than 18 billion lifetime views to date. For many younger viewers, SNL’s YouTube presence is the show: they may never watch the broadcast, but they actively seek out its sketches, characters, and impressions online.

Top YouTube Channels by Reach in the U.S., First Half 2025

Source: Digital i. Interval: 01/01/2025 – 30/06/2025, Active YouTube users in the U.S.