Core Viewpoint - YouTube is increasingly becoming a significant competitor to traditional streaming services and entertainment studios, leading to legal disputes over talent poaching and employment contracts [1][2]. Company Developments - YouTube has hired Justin Connolly, former president of platform distribution at Walt Disney Co., which has resulted in Disney suing both YouTube and Connolly for breach of contract [2][4]. - Connolly was responsible for Disney's distribution strategy and negotiations for licensing deals, including those with YouTube [3][9]. - Disney is seeking a preliminary injunction to enforce Connolly's employment contract, which is set to last until at least March 2027 [4][10]. Industry Context - YouTube accounted for 12% of U.S. TV viewing in March, surpassing other streaming services like Netflix, and generated an estimated revenue of $54.2 billion last year, making it the second-largest media company after Disney [7]. - YouTube's diverse content library includes over 20 billion videos, with more than 20 million videos uploaded daily, combining user-generated and professional content [8]. - The competitive landscape is intensifying, with other streaming services like Netflix acknowledging YouTube as a strong competitor [9].