Twitch Ad Revenue Plummets: Top Streamers Sound the Alarm

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Summary

  • Twitch ad revenue is down significantly for many streamers like Knut and Mizkif, causing concerns for their incomes.
  • Twitch is experimenting with picture-in-picture ads while Kick remains an attractive option with a 95/5 revenue split.

Based on reports from popular streamers like Knut and Mizkif, it appears that the ad revenue on Twitch is significantly lower, which might indicate difficult times ahead for streamers using this platform. Although Twitch remains the dominant livestreaming service, a drop in earnings for its streamers could potentially shift the landscape.

On Twitch, streamers have multiple avenues to earn money. Advertisements form part of their earnings, while additional income is generated through subscriptions and donated bits. Notably, since ads are displayed to all viewers who aren’t subscribed, they can constitute a substantial portion of many streamers’ earnings, which makes the recent claim about them concerning.

Currently, streamer Knut has spoken publicly about the decrease in advertising income he’s experienced while streaming on Twitch. He shared a visual representation to illustrate this decline and stated that ad revenue is at its lowest point ever. Knut mentioned discussing this issue with Mizkif, who also reported a significant drop in his own ad earnings. Additionally, Knut pointed out that streaming on Kick has been beneficial during this slump in Twitch’s ad revenue.

What’s Going on With Advertising on Twitch?

Internet advertising revenues frequently change on various platforms, not only streaming services. Much of this advertising involves companies competing in bids for ad space, causing the cost (and thus earnings for the platform) to rise or fall significantly based on demand. This dynamic may apply to Twitch as well, but it faced a wave of controversy in late 2024 that allegedly led some advertisers to withdraw their support. Twitch was accused of antisemitism, and companies like Chevron reportedly pulled out their ads due to these accusations.

Recently, Twitch has been tinkering with how ads appear on its platform, introducing picture-in-picture ads. This means that while a user is watching their stream, the ad pops up in a smaller, picture-in-picture window, keeping the main focus on the stream. The company has also given lesser-known streamers the option to receive subscriptions and bits from viewers. However, these changes do not benefit the established, big-name streamers on the platform.

In the ongoing struggle for dominance in streaming, Kick maintains an attractive revenue distribution of 95/5, with the majority of 95% being paid to the broadcasters. Yet, if streamers simultaneously broadcast on various platforms, the platform may modify their earnings. If Twitch’s advertising declines significantly, it could potentially drive some streamers away from the platform and towards alternatives such as Kick or YouTube.

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2025-05-22 04:50