Remove mid-roll ads
Cancel the testing of mid-roll ads on affiliate and partner channels. Your viewer base doesn't want this and creators don't want ads playing out of their control interrupting their content
As we announced on Twitter earlier, we have concluded the mid-rolls experiment. Thank you all for your comments and the incredible momentum you’ve contributed to this topic.
There have been many great suggestions, both in this thread and in the Ads forum that we have taken back to the team for consideration. It’s important to know that ads are essential to the future of Twitch, however we want to make things as painless as possible. Please still upvote, share, comment, and create new ideas in this forum so that we may continue to benefit from all of your passionate influence.
Announcement: https://twitter.com/TwitchSupport/status/1306709495196852225?s=20
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Mr_Tib commented
I suggest instead of forcing mid roll adds, give more incentive for optional add runs. this could honestly be a great tool to use to encourage streamers to get up and active every hour.
1 ad per half hour block at the time of choosing for the streamer. Also maybe you should look into letting streamers choose which ads are played on their channel, if they knew who they were supporting (because lets be real, the streamer is supporting the product when an ad is played) they might be more willing to run them.
No one is saying "take all ads away," but if you continue down this path, more and more people will start finding new ways to block ads - or switch platforms.
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realdobalina commented
The current midroll experiment a hot mess. I was watching a dj stream last night and got the 2mins of midroll ads less than 5 mins into my viewing. The ads kept interrupting the stream it felt like every 5-7 mins, but was probably longer. The point is, the constant interruptions make it feel like its more than it really is.
Now, I really can't watch any non-sub'd streamers b/c my listening & viewing experiences are completely broken.
Other issues:
- the ads play at almost 5x the volume of the streamer. This is especially egregious when they ads play *in the middle of a song*. At times I have the stream playing on speakers (just to listen ) and not watching the stream - this make the ad break even worse.- I haven't yet experienced the PIP where the streamer goes into the corner. I've only experienced full screen complete takeover, which is even more jarring especially when combined with the big volume jump.
- the midroll ad breaks don't incentivize me to sub or buy bits. At all. They're so frustrating, I always leave the stream immediately.
There are a bunch of different ways to accomplish the same goals. I'd be much more receptive to watching more ads in the pre-roll. Add banner ads. Lower 3rd. Integrate takeovers into the streamer's graphics packages. Make it feel like an actual, integrated part of the stream instead of something that just hits you over the head when it's time for them to air. Include ads in the chat - a DR ad with a link in the chat would actually make sense and wouldn't interrupt the core streaming experience.
Also, give streamers the option of how to integrate these ads! Right now, most have been shocked to hear their streams are being interrupted so strongly, especially since not everyone is having the same experience. They have no ability to prepare their stream and audience as to what might happen at a moment's notice.
Conclusion: You've effectively limited the ability to scale the platform. The new twitch experience is awful for everyone involved - I won't be tuning into any streams I don't subscribe to anymore, and there goes my ability to discover new streamers & content. EVERY SINGLE CREATOR ON YOUR PLATFORM IS AFFECTED. Streamers are frustrated too and MANY have said they'll either start limiting their streams or switch platforms altogether. It's lousy that a streamer has to start their stream by qualifying what might happen if a viewer is in this experiment - and keep referring to it throughout their stream. Trust, if my favorite streamers leave, I'm right there with them.
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SEG_Duckshot commented
Honestly, I used to watch a whole lot more Twitch streams back when I could pay a flat fee and get ad-free viewing on all channels. I would search for tons of new content and creators bc I wouldn’t have to sit through an ad all the time. While I do watch the channels I have subbed to, I never would have found them if it wasn’t for ad-free viewing. When Twitch Prime removed ad-free as a benefit, I immediately cancelled my renewal.
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Cueue_ commented
A lower 1/3 would be a fine idea in my opinion. Mid roll ads is just not the way to go with it, interrupting a stream it just going to cause to many people to just adblock to not mis anything
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poorlydrawnbees commented
Force a banner on the screen if you must just please don't let the stream be interrupted.
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twin_1 commented
https://twitter.com/TheMilliebug/status/1306168702140919808?s=19
She has a great write up on why this helps twitch but here are better alternatives.
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doomslice commented
Every 5-7 minutes I'm getting 2-4 ads that last about 1 minute. This is insane and totally interrupts the action.
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Waterinu commented
Preroll, banner, or even muted small video ads floating unobtrusive in a corner. Preroll ads on mobile. YouTube has the option to do some option ads where you answer what you've seen or heard about. That might be a good way and if after 30 seconds nothing is voted then option to skip. Maybe even have option for opinion add or just a video ad
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DJRebirth commented
It's clear Twitch is at a very important turning point in terms of growth (much of it can most likely be attributed to awareness of the platform growing due to celebrities and big music artists migrating their content to Twitch in the wake of COVID-19). If Twitch chooses to pursue profit "just because" at the expense of the quality of streams (i.e. injecting ads directly into the middle of them arbitrarily), it will be very detrimental to the platform in the long run and not have the expected result that they want to see. Instead of activating a "feature" and then asking for feedback, they should first pitch the idea to Twitch's content creators and THEN if the feature seems favorable (which in this instance it is absolutely not), they can move forward or simply drop it and move on to the next feature. I want to see Twitch succeed as much as the next person, but if the platform continues to make arbitrary decisions and pursue the "Quantity over Quality" model, it's going to affect my morale and reduce my willingness to participate on the platform.
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LOKIOLR commented
We record long form podcasts on Twitch and this change would greatly impact the quality of the show for our listeners since the audio is the main draw. A better alternative would be non-intrusive banner ads below the stream. Otherwise we're going to have to recommend our listeners use an ad blocker, and we don't want to do that. Ad revenue for 2020 has been less than $5 so we'd rather Twitch keeps 100% of the pre-roll revenue if it means no mid-roll ads.
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Novawing24 commented
I am happy to work with ads as I understand the platform still needs to be profitable in order to provide a place for creators. However allow more control over ad placement such as what is used on platforms like YouTube. Preroll ads or even reminders to content creators to roll ads during breaks will be helpful. Banner ads or give us an ad box to place on our homepage to work with it. Help us help you help us.
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assassinlupus7 commented
Hey. So, you know that some of those streams are narrative streams, right? Would you enjoy it if you were, say, watching a new movie you were really excited to see, and right in the middle of a really important emotional scene, you got an add? The movie wasn't paused. You just missed some huge revelation.
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BaronHaynes commented
Many viewers and streamers are opposed to ads no matter how they're implemented and prefer to generate revenue directly from their community. Forcing those communities to incorporate disruptions into a continuous broadcast is antithetical to the point of livestreaming, especially for streams focused on races, restreams, charity events, and other content build around spontaneous moments. Streamers also don't get to choose which companies and products are advertised on their channel, which creates another layer of tension when they're required to tacitly endorse things they may not want to endorse.
If Twitch needs to expand its advertising, there are ways to do it without being so disruptive to the stream experience and forcing all content creators to shape their broadcasts around it. Banner ads on the homepage or following/search pages, produced advertising partnership streams from Twitch's main account, opt-in advertising space on partnered stream layouts -- I'm not an advertising consultant, but random mid-rolls are disruptive to the community and current ad rates deliver almost nothing to partners and affiliates.
This isn't good for Twitch communities, certainly not in the blanket way it's being implemented now. It's not worth the loss of goodwill from the audience that's been painstakingly built up over 10 years, and the backlash of people resorting to adblocking to make their streams function properly.
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Zundmaster commented
What if Twitch provided affiliates and partners an extra emote slot that could be earned maybe daily, weekly, monthly.. etc... that is based on ad viewing on that stream... probably algo based to the extent that it would adapt your goal or rate of achieving the goal based on your viewership... once you hit this goal of ad time watched, your community gets to use the emote. Incentivized advertising for everyone seems much better and doesn't hurt those who don't participate.
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tenmachi commented
Streaming is entirely about the content creator providing their audience with a live experience. I have previously likened it to hanging out on the streamer's couch and shooting the breeze while they play games. Mid-roll advertising is the equivalent of that extremely annoying used car salesman we've all seen running into the room and SHOUTING LOUDLY IN YOUR FACE TO THE POINT YOU CAN'T MAKE OUT ANYTHING YOUR FRIEND IS SAYING OR DOING.
It's hideously rude, jarring to the point that it makes me leave the room when it happens, and provides a **** strong incentive to never come back if it's being permitted.
Don't do this to your creators. They don't deserve to get knifed in the back like that.
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[Deleted User] commented
The community will not sit down and shut up about mid-roll ads. I don't know who thought this was a good idea, but you cannot do this, it WILL lower your viewership! You will lose money from this!!
I understand you need ad revenue and streamers won't play ads. Instead of interrupting streams, try:
-Banner ads.
-Allowing viewers to watch ads in exchange for ad-free viewing
-Mini player that runs popular clips and ads in between
-Pre-roll ads on clips/highlightsBe honest with your creaters about any financial challenges. If ad revenue will 'save' their favorite platform, they might be more willing to run them. (Set up a stream goal!)
YouTube will steal all of your viewers of you allow mid-roll ads. They already have banner ads and pre-roll ads on their videos, plus the stream is a video so you can quickly rewind and see what you missed in stream. Idk, I find that a lot more appealing than missing a round of among us to watch that awful Miller lite confusion you call an ad for the thousandth time!
Please don't run this platform into the ground by being greedy with ads.
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Temporal_Wolf333 commented
Forced mid-roll ads will kill community night - and effectively the Jackbox series itself - esports, small streamers, and a whole host of other content. This is BY FAR the least needed thing to ever even be proposed.
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narcmonster commented
Can we try ads outside of the stream? Like on the side panels or maybe even at the top of the chat bar? I get that ads are needed to pay for the service, but there has to be a better solution than to interrupt the stream which causes the viewer to miss (potentially) crucial parts of the experience.
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aPastelWitch commented
You have streamers and viewers who are willing to work with the platform to ensure that it succeeds. Do better testing and active listening. Y'all literally keep making the same mistakes over and over because you just go over the real people with bad marketing decisions (we saw your recent emote debacle and as a woman I know intimately how important it is to keep track of every name you still haven't banned for abuse-- ******, harassment, etc.) Y'all aren't doing your best and we would love to help you if you would include us more. Especially if you would have a better diversity panel of ppl 24/7, not just a couple times a year.
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MrCab55 commented
Get these ads off my channel plzkthx. I don't need the pennies.