YouTube is now used weekly by nearly one in two people in France, according to new data from Arcom, underlining its growing role in the French media landscape.
The regulator’s Audio-Video Trends 2026 study found that 48% of the population access YouTube at least once a week, rising to 69% among 15–24-year-olds and 64% among 25–34s. This makes YouTube the second most visited platform in France, behind Facebook but ahead of Instagram.
Arcom said the platform’s rise reflects a broader shift in viewing habits, with increasing convergence between online video and traditional television. Juliette Théry, Arcom board member, said: “There is a form of convergence in users’ perceptions between YouTube and television channels, even though the economic and legal models are completely different.”
Smartphones remain the dominant access point, used by 89% of viewers, but television sets are gaining importance, with two-thirds of users now watching YouTube on the big screen. Around 27% of users said they automatically open YouTube when switching on their TV, rising to 36% among younger audiences.
This shift is also changing viewing patterns. While short-form content remains near universal, longer formats are growing strongly, with 77% of users watching content over 30 minutes, increasing to 85% when viewed on television screens.
Despite growing competition, Arcom said traditional broadcasters retain a strong position. Free-to-air television remains the most widely consumed video service, particularly for news and sport, while subscription video-on-demand services continue to dominate fiction.
At the same time, boundaries between platforms are increasingly blurred. Around half of users watch television-originated content on YouTube, while creators and TV personalities are appearing across both environments.
The study also highlights the growing importance of distribution platforms and interfaces. Operator set-top boxes remain the main gateway to television, but smart TVs are gaining ground, increasingly directing viewers towards streaming platforms.
Arcom warned that this shift raises questions around regulation and prominence, particularly as global technology and device manufacturers play a greater role in controlling access to content.
In audio, the report found radio remains a mass medium, reaching nearly 38 million daily listeners, but is undergoing a digital transition as listening shifts towards smartphones and online platforms.
Overall, Arcom said the market is undergoing a gradual “recomposition” rather than a sudden disruption, with traditional media continuing to play a central role alongside rapidly growing digital platforms.
