Please use banner ads instead of random midrolls
Nobody wants to watch random ads that block out the stream. Picture-in-picture doesn't work if we only see but not hear the stream during ads. Banners would solve the problem - you get to give us more ads but the stream doesn't get interrupted. I repeat: nobody needs random ads that block the stream. it's not only disruptive for the viewers, but also for the streamer. bad idea, really.
Just wanted to update this thread that we are doing an experiment right now with Stream Display Ads!
These are less disruptive ads that allow viewers to see and hear Creators while being displayed. Creators will receive ad revenue for each SDA shown.
You can find out more information here: https://twitter.com/TwitchSupport/status/1422255927483318277
-
OwMeSoThorny commented
Instead of pre-roll ads or mid-stream ads why not but bottom banner ads that pop up every so often and hang out for a minute or so. You could also do like the NFL and do a small frame add on the side that plays audio still. This would prevent 3 of every 10 viewers from leaving because of ad rolls.
If a streamer wants to run a full add give them that option to launch it and give them a higher percentage for doing so since they are are potentially killing their own viewership to do it.
-
오래된코코넛 commented
I know that for Twitch's finances, advertising is necessary. However, there have been too many video advertisements recently.(Sometimes up to six) I think this could prevent the growth of new streamers and lead to a decrease in Twitch users in the long run. So I suggest banner ads. Like YouTube banner ads, it would be better to turn it off and close it. Banner ads that appear every 10 minutes or every 20 minutes do not cause much resistance to users, and banner ads will also have a positive impact on finances. Instead, I want you to reduce video advertising.
-
Total_Angst commented
Too many ads. I usually just close out and watch youtube instead.
-
techygeek commented
Hi,
Since amazon bought twitch in 2014, just how much money do these companies REALLY need ? It looks like some kind of compromise could be worked out so everybody satisfied. Of course that's just my opinion. -
SkratchinJackson commented
Just stop. It's killing discoverability of smaller streamers. Pop in a lower thirds or banner ad when joining and pop in a skippable ad 10min in. Lower thirds ads that have to be closed by the viewer will easily compensate for the stupid long pre-rolls everyone leaves during.
-
qpan commented
This is a archaic method of advertising that doesnt fit with a LIVE content , use banners ,overlays ,PIP that dont interfere with watching the content , give the broadcasters control and options for spreading adverts on there channels , overlays, banners , give the viewers a choice and incentive to click on a ads on there own , do emote unlocks for ads watched instead of bits , forcing MORE ADS on the viewers is not what the community on twitch wants , these ideas took me a few minutes to come up with , dont tell me you never thought of this , dont be lazy and try to do TV or You tube style advertising for RECORDED content which really isn't what Twitch is , twitch is a live service and treat it as such ,
-
plzrename_ commented
The amount of times i instantly closed streams i open these past few days, just because i got a preroll ad (not to mention the same ones over and over and over again) is astounding.
Is it really that difficult to have banners in some sections of the player instead while the main stream keeps running? TV has done this for ages already especially during live broadcasts.
Maybe give the streamer an option where to place it (top, bottom, left, right) so they can put it somewhere where it doesnt block anything mayor. -
ferr_rus commented
we have small picture without sound and midroll ad that i dont even seen. Why do i remember TV with their midroll that are at least a minute long? Ah yeah, it's the same thing
-
SfSuicune commented
The ad system ist perfect without any kind of midroll ads garbage.
Twitch makes tons of money from normal ads already and through subs. Midroll ads are completely not needed!
I just got ads every 15 Minutes(!) while watching a speedrun. Guess what? I missed key content. Yeah thank you very much. This is not frigging Television! -
Kickeristic commented
Yes!
Ads shouldn't block out the streamer's content, it's the reason why people watch in the first place.
If you're going to force ads, at least show them in a small portion of the screen as suggested above. -
BostonTom commented
i know some people here said in the comments it wouldn't work but i wonder if there is a way to make a banner pop up within the video player and can't be blocked similar to how right now ads show and it is generally harder to block using ad blocker that way its not interrupting content as much, no sound so people can still clip and ads still get their products in front of eyes seems like a win for all parties
-
Spaaam commented
Wouldn't work from a business perspective. Banner ads are easy to block, they need an alternative though. Perhaps split the screen in half, ad on the left, stream on the right. Stream with a higher volume but the ad also having audio, for obvious reasons.
-
Uni626 commented
When I use twitch as a viewer I will occasionally click on a stream I don’t usually watch and almost immediately regret it when I get bombarded with ads that no one cares to watch. It’s one thing when I know the streamer and know it’s worth waiting for but I don’t care to watch all that junk to find out if I actually want to watch this stream so I stick with the streamers I know. As I streamer I have to say I don’t think I’m the only viewer that acts like that and it sucks for discoverability. If there was like a picture in picture thing or banners or something so I could actually view the stream I clicked on at the same time I might be more inclined to stick around long enough to see if this is something I want to watch.
It’s like channel surfing on the tv. If you click on a channel and they’re currently running ads you click on to the next channel. You don’t watch 10 minutes of ads just to find out what’s playing on that channel. -
TheOllie_ commented
Banners are better and make them so that I don't miss content. Plus being able to remove them after few seconds of seeing them would also be
-
johnothetree commented
100% the best compromise options. I realize Twitch needs money, but interrupting content makes me want to not use the platform, while this is a tolerable change that satisfies all parties.
-
VRNocturne commented
1. Take about the top 25-30% of the chat window and put the ad there. Silent by default unless you click on it.
2. Do #1 but take the followed channels sidebar space instead.
3. Create a no-ads tier that's not the full turbo thing. All I want is no ads, I don't care about the rest. If there was a no-ads tier for like $2-3/month, I'd be on that.
-
Folkja commented
The current implementation of ads is very lackluster, it either complete obstructs the gameplay without Picture-In-Picture and creates a disconnect to the stream which is a detriment for the entire twitch experience or it obstructs most of the stream.
A way better implementation would be to let the streamer control ad placement like cam placement in the stream and to have an ad window without audio that's about the size of a webcam. Especially with options like having the ads slightly transparent or as an overlay it could be way more attractive for companies as well since they get way more exposure over a longer time. Even the problem of ad-blocking can be avoided this way. -
ThingyChan commented
Oh that is a great idea!
-
Hotdoghotdoghotdiggitydo commented
This is reasonable imo
-
TheRedMenace commented
Part of the issue that the currently implementation of ads completely passes over is audio. Twitch did a lot of work to add this new picture-in-picture mode, that moves the stream above chat, so the audience isn't "missing" anything. However this is a flawed idea.
You see, visuals to a stream are only 50% at a maximum and can be even less depending on the content. That's where audio and interaction come in. A large number of viewers come to interact with streamers. They come to see and hear the streamers reactions to awesome moments in games, esports, announcements. They come to be a part of the content and experience it.
The current implementation of mid-roll ads completely takes that all away. We quite literally saw a clip of a streamer watching the PlayStation event this past week who was seeing a cool unveiling of the new (but controversial) Harry Potter game, who then literally got a mid-roll ad in the unveiling. Sony isn't going to run ads so people don't miss the conference.
So my suggestion is to add what's known as a "lower third" to the stream. Easiest comparison is to YouTube. It's a small banner picture, or gif ad, that appears over the center middle portion of the video player. It's not super intrusive, it's not muting stream audio, nor shifting the entire video player. And viewers can just exit out of that ad whenever they want, or click on it to be taken to the advertisers site for more info.
Optionally, there's a lot of wasted space just in the overall Twitch UI that could have banner ads as well to serve the same purpose.
I understand that Twitch is a business. I understand that Twitch needs money to operate as all businesses do. But Twitch needs to understand that their "product" is the viewer experience, and automated mid-roll ads tarnishes the entire experience. If a streamer wants to manually run ads, then by all means allow them to, but forcing this system on people will absolutely drive the quality of streams down, drive the quality of the viewing experience down, and just overall make people unhappy.
As a daily viewer, I am asking, please consider other alternatives like Lower Thirds before sticking to this.