YouTube Select

Dominant premium video advertising product within the world's largest video platform, competing directly with broadcast and streaming TV ad inventory

YouTube Select (formerly Google Preferred) is a premium advertising program operated by Google that allows advertisers to place their ads alongside the most popular and brand-suitable content on YouTube. Launched under its current name in 2020, it replaced the Google Preferred program and offers curated lineups of top-performing YouTube channels and content across various categories such as sports, beauty, gaming, music, and more. Advertisers gain access to audiences watching the top 5% of YouTube content, ensuring high viewability and engagement rates. YouTube Select operates as a key component of Google's broader advertising ecosystem, sitting within Google Ads and Display & Video 360 (DV360). It offers both guaranteed and non-guaranteed buying options, giving media buyers flexibility in how they secure premium inventory. The program is particularly valued by brand advertisers seeking reach, brand safety, and contextual relevance at scale, making it a direct competitor to traditional TV advertising budgets. In the AdTech ecosystem, YouTube Select holds a dominant position as one of the largest premium digital video advertising products globally. With YouTube commanding over 2 billion logged-in monthly users, YouTube Select provides unmatched scale for video advertising. Its integration with Google's measurement, targeting, and audience tools makes it a cornerstone product for brand-building campaigns, especially as advertisers shift budgets from linear TV to connected TV and streaming platforms.