Give Streamer a hint (countdown) before a mid-roll ad will start
So mid-roll ads are going to happen, if we like it or not
How about telling the creator before they happen so that they still have time to do an ad break on their terms?
What if 10min before a mid-roll ad would take place the ad button in the stream manager turns red and displays a 10min countdown. The creator will have 10min to do an ad break on his/her terms - if he/she does, no (additional) mid-roll ad; if he/she doesn’t, play the mid-roll ad after the countdown is over
That way you get what you want which is people watching ads, while creators still get some sort of control over it

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ElowenFox commented
Streamers have the option to run ads. Doing so prevents preroll ads from appearing. You also get a timer showing how long the prerolls are suspended for and if you try to run an ad too soon, it will not let you. There is an internal timer. Some streamers like Devin Nash promote rolling your own ads and he tasks his mods with keeping track of it.
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italianokeyes commented
Like on TV, every 45-60 minutes or so, streamers should have the opportunity to break into video commercials. The stream shouldn't never be interrupted suddenly though. Streamers shall receive a notification when they are able to send another commercial (if they want to), and it is up to them to evaluate the best time to do so, not to ruin the streaming experience for viewers, eg. in-between two matches of a game. Once the commercial is over, the stream shall resume automatically.
This would allow you more money for extra commercials and extra monetization for the streamer breaking to commercials. -
nofreaknway commented
Develop a tool to alert streamers when an ad is about to roll and a way to delay it for a limited amount of time, so they have a chance to segue their viewers into it without interrupting the flow of their stream. Ads can work if you take an approach that allows content creators to properly incorporate it into their stream. An approach like this will undoubtedly gain higher viewer engagement in actually watching the ads if the streamer has the agency to invite viewers to watch the ads that help support the platform and the stream.
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Hochgeistig commented
Yes, let the streamer play ads to reset the timer. Simple as that.
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KisakaToriama commented
Display a counter in the bottom right corner, something like "An Ad will play in X:XX. Play it now?" To give viewers the option to play it when they see fit, or at the end of the countdown! That way, it gives power to the viewer.
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BitMissing commented
Place a notification in mod only chat with a timer asking the streamer to run ads before automatically assigning midrolls.
I had a few of my regular chat members get adverts, always when something interesting was happening. My mods had to clip the stream and send it to them so they didn't miss out. If I knew midrolls were about to run, I'd be able to take a planned break and explain to the chat what was happening. -
ScopedPixels commented
- For small streamers trying to build an audience, the typical viewer has 0 patience to sit thru a 10-30 secnd ad. wait 30-1min in. Give the streamer a chance to show the viewer what they're about
- Give the viewer a countdown an ad is Incoming (i.e "Ad will play in x seconds"). Lesson the shock and rage factor.
- The PIP mute creator, play loud ad does not work. How about an audio option whether they can choose between creator or ad. Or do what sport networks do, compress creator window 85 percent, and use the available space to play ads muted underneath. If the viewer decides to check it out a separate browser window pops up.
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Sprout07 commented
From what I’m seeing ppl talk about the main problem is that streamers don’t know when the ads are happening, they won’t to have control over it and they don’t want to miss important moments. so I think the best way for you guys to do it would be as a notification warning the streamer to show an ad in ___ mins or an auto ad will run. this way the streamer has some control and should hopefully be able to run the ad out of match or pause to take a quick break well the ad runs