More Viewers Watch Online Video News Than Broadcast TV News, Finds Reuters Institute

Why It Matters

The shift signals a fundamental re‑allocation of audience attention and advertising dollars from traditional broadcasters to digital platforms, forcing legacy newsrooms to rethink distribution and revenue models. Declining trust and the rise of AI‑driven news further pressure brands to prioritize credibility and transparent sourcing.

Key Takeaways

• Online video news surpasses TV in 45 markets
• Social media accounts for majority of digital news consumption
• Global news trust drops to 37%, lowest since 2015
• AI chatbots used by 10% for news, trusted at 20%
• Creators deliver 3% of news, seen as entertaining

Pulse Analysis

The Reuters Institute’s latest Digital News Report marks a watershed moment for the news industry: online video has overtaken broadcast television in 45 markets, underscoring a rapid migration of audience attention to on‑demand platforms. This transition is powered by social networks—Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok—where nearly half of all news seekers now turn for video content. For broadcasters and legacy publishers, the implication is clear: advertising spend and audience engagement are increasingly tied to digital video strategies, compelling traditional players to invest in streaming capabilities, data‑driven personalization, and cross‑platform distribution to stay relevant.

Equally concerning is the erosion of trust in news, which fell to 37% globally, the lowest level recorded since the Institute began tracking in 2015. The decline coincides with a surge in AI chatbot usage for news, rising to 10% of consumers, yet confidence in these automated answers remains a scant 20%. Social media, while convenient, garners only 22% trust, highlighting a paradox where audiences rely on low‑trust sources out of habit. News organisations must therefore double down on transparency, fact‑checking, and audience education to rebuild credibility in an increasingly fragmented information ecosystem.

The growing presence of creators and influencers adds another layer of complexity. Although they contribute just 3% of the overall news diet, they are perceived as more engaging and entertaining, albeit less trustworthy than established outlets. This dynamic creates opportunities for collaboration: legacy media can adopt the storytelling techniques and audience‑centric formats that creators excel at, while creators can leverage the editorial rigor and brand authority of traditional newsrooms. As the lines blur, the most successful news businesses will be those that blend professional journalism with the agility and appeal of digital creators, forging hybrid models that capture both trust and attention.