A distributed joint routing and spectrum sharing algorithm for video streaming applications over cognitive radio ad hoc networks is proposed in this article. The proposed cross-layer control scheme dynamically allocates routes, spectrum and power to maximize the network throughput under the constraints posed by delay-sensitive video applications. The algorithm evaluates the expected delay of competing flows in single-hop and two-hop networks considering the time-varying spectrum condition and occupancy, traffic characteristics, and the condition of queues at intermediate nodes. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm significantly reduces the packet loss rate and improves the average peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of the received video streams. Key words: Cross-layer design, spectrum sharing, video streaming, cognitive radio