- By Tom Gerken
- technology reporter
June 7, 2023
Updated 1 hour ago
Image source: Getty Images
Twitch is scrapping its own new advertising rules after facing a backlash that saw streamers leave the platform.
The Amazon-owned live streaming service announced it would limit the size and type of ads streamers who create content on Twitch can see.
This would have significantly reduced the way streamers generate revenue on the platform.
“Sponsors are critical to the growth and ability of streamers to generate revenue,” it said. “We will not prevent you from entering into direct relationships with sponsors – you will continue to own and control your sponsorship business.”
“We want to work with our community to create the best experience on Twitch, and to do that we need to be clear about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. We appreciate your feedback and help with this change.”
It comes a day after Twitch apologized for the “confusion” over the new rules and promised to rewrite them.
Image source: CB Visuals
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Stallion has 61,000 followers on Twitch
But British streamer Marco, known online as Stallion, told BBC News he will be leaving Twitch after the original update anyway.
“That’s the push I needed to get off this platform,” he said.
“It’s something that’s been on my mind for the past two years… The problem with Twitch is that it has next to no discoverability – it’s one of those platforms where you’re not if you’re not already at the top stands.” will be.
“I understand it’s a business, but it’s like there’s no thought for the people that are on the platform… it just feels like it’s all about the money now and nothing to do with it has to do with us.”
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The new rules would have meant that streamers would not be allowed to embed any advertising, be it video, audio or otherwise, directly into their streams, and would limit the size of any logos to only 3% of the screen size.
Streamers typically embed ads so they are viewable at all times.
Twitch typically pays them 50% of the money it makes from its subscribers, although some of the biggest streamers get a 70-30 “revenue split.” However, the platform does not receive any revenue from advertising or donations made by streamers.
In comparison, YouTubers get 70% of revenue from their subscriptions, called memberships. But YouTube also takes 30% of fan donations.
‘Very scared’
The new rules also raised concerns at charity events like Games Done Quick, which announced in June it had raised $2.2 million for Doctors Without Borders, due to its heavy reliance on logos to fill much of the screen .
It remains unclear which of the new rules will now be rewritten – but for some the damage has been done.
“It doesn’t think about whether people are making a living on the platform or not,” Stallion said.
“It’s a step I should have taken years ago — but it’s one that, honestly, I was terrified of because it’s my full-time career.”
“In the long run, that will be the best for me.”