YouTube channels benefit as kids look beyond traditional TV

Producers of content from toy-unboxing videos to Minecraft gamers and vloggers target growing children's market

At the Children's Media Conference in London last week, one big structural shift in how the young watch TV loomed large amidst conversations about diversity and the impact of Brexit.

YouTube was still the hottest of topics, with its ever-growing popularity among children making it impossible to ignore. In May 2016, 35 of the top 100 YouTube channels (by video views) were aimed at children, generating 8.6bn views collectively.