Netflix reaches ‘top three’ on Nielsen’s Media Distributor Gauge list; YouTube continues to lead

Nielsen’s “Media Distributor Gauge” report for June showed that Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) saw the largest gain among media distributors, adding 0.8 share points during the month versus May to finish with 8.3% share of total television usage.

Netflix viewing was driven by a packed slate of fresh content, as well as the annual summer increase in streaming-heavy viewers aged 6-17, according to the media analytics and research firm.

The streaming giant made it to the top three on the media distributors list for the first time, said Nielsen’s SVP of Product Strategy and Thought Leadership, Brian Fuhrer.

At the top of the list for a fifth consecutive month was YouTube (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL). The platform also received a boost from school-aged audiences in June over May and represented 12.8% of TV usage, its largest share of television to date and the largest lead among media distributors.

Disney (NYSE:DIS) held on to the second spot, representing 10% of total TV viewing. ABC affiliates accounted for the top 33 broadcast telecasts in June, driven largely by the NBA Finals and ABC World News Tonight, the report said.

Pay TV distributors: Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA), Charter (NASDAQ:CHTR), Dish Network (NASDAQ:SATS), Verizon FiOS (NYSE:VZ), Optimum/Suddenlink (NYSE:ATUS), Atlantic Broadband (OTCPK:CGEAF), Sparklight (NYSE:CABO).

Relevant local broadcast tickers: Nexstar Media Group (NASDAQ:NXST), Sinclair Broadcast Group (NASDAQ:SBGI), Gray Television (NYSE:GTN), Tegna (NYSE:TGNA), E.W. Scripps (NASDAQ:SSP).

National broadcasters: ABC (NYSE:DIS), NBC (NASDAQ:CMCSA), CBS (NASDAQ:PARA) (NASDAQ:PARAA), Fox (NASDAQ:FOX) (NASDAQ:FOXA).

Ad-tech names tied to connected TV: The Trade Desk (NASDAQ:TTD), Magnite (NASDAQ:MGNI), PubMatic (NASDAQ:PUBM), Criteo (NASDAQ:CRTO), Roku (NASDAQ:ROKU), Illumin (OTCQB:ILLMF).