On most popular streaming platforms, you will likely encounter ad breaks, and Twitch ads are no exception.
That’s why today, I will discuss Twitch ad revenue, the types of ad breaks available on Twitch, how watching ads functions for both Twitch viewers and streamers, and how to run ads on Twitch.
Table of Contents
Can Twitch Affiliates Run Ads?
First and foremost, Twitch users must be part of the Affiliate Program in order to receive ad revenue.
You can choose to run ads manually, or your regular ad breaks can be automated.
Affiliates receive only a small portion of the ad revenue, and to qualify for a monthly payout, they must accumulate at least $100 in ad revenue.
How Running Ads On Twitch Works?
The types of ads displayed and the timing of ad breaks will vary based on the channel’s target audience, which is influenced by the Twitch community and its followers.
Similar to other influencer marketing, Twitch advertising varies from viewer to viewer.
Thus, it’s not just the Twitch influencers and content creation that have an impact on this.
Watching ads and pre-rolls typically happens only for viewers who follow the account, rather than for those who are subscribers of the channel.
However, this can vary from channel to channel, as Twitch streamers have the ability to modify this. In most cases, not everyone will experience the ad breaks.
If you are a Twitch streamer and you run ads, make sure to inform your viewers before these breaks occur, as it can significantly impact their user experience.
I assume you want your viewers to have the best experience possible.
Types of Twitch Ads
On Twitch, you can encounter several types of ads, and understanding this information could be beneficial whether you are a viewer, a streamer, or a brand looking to begin marketing on Twitch.
Let’s explore the various ad types you can expect to find on Twitch.
1. Cross-Screen Video Ads
Firstly, we have cross-screen ads. As the name suggests, this type of ad can be displayed on both computers and phones, allowing them to appear on various devices.
There are unskippable cross-screen ads, as well as mid-roll ads; the former lasts 30 seconds, while the latter lasts 60 seconds.
With this type of ad, you will be able to check various parameters through third-party services, which is why many advertisers tend to favor them.
2. Desktop Video Ads
This type of ad automatically and directly integrates into the broadcast being shared on a desktop computer. They can also appear as mid-roll ads and pre-rolls.
In addition, they possess all the qualities that the previous type has.
3. Homepage Carousel
This type of ad is focused on streams occurring on Twitch.
On the homepage, various streams will be showcased with small thumbnails and brief descriptions, allowing many channels to gain traction in this manner.
4. Homepage Headliner
As the name suggests, these are the ads that prominently feature on Twitch’s homepage when you visit the site.
The sizes and placements may vary, but they all share a common requirement: two end images and a hex color code.
They must also include a color gradient fade and have space available for branding.
These ads must be in either JPG or PNG format, must be less than 150KB in size, and should measure 450×350 pixels.
5. Medium Rectangle
These medium rectangle ads appear when users are deciding what to watch and scrolling through a variety of content on Twitch.
There are also specific requirements for these ads: they must not exceed 100KB in size, should have dimensions of 250×300 pixels, and must be in either JPG, PNG, or GIF format.
If the ad is animated, it can be 15 seconds long or last for 3 loops.
6. Mobile Video
As the name implies, these are the video ads that appear on the Twitch app.
Like many other ads, they can be 30 seconds long and unskippable, or they can be 60 seconds long mid-rolls.
7. Super Leaderboard
If you’ve ever seen ads at the top of the screen, those are the super leaderboard ads.
These types of ads remain active even as people scroll through Twitch, contemplating what they want to watch. This is a significant advantage of these ads from the advertiser’s perspective.
The only requirement for these ads is that they must have the standard banner dimensions and last either 15 seconds or 3 loops if they include animations.
8. SureStream
This type of ad is actually the favorite among advertisers, and there are compelling reasons for this.
They are automatically included in the broadcast, rather than being added separately, which means that viewers will see them during the stream they are watching.
They are not a separate layer; like most ads here, they can either be 60-second mid-rolls or unskippable 30-second ads.
9. Multiplayer Twitch Ads
These are likely the most exciting ads on this list, as they are still in beta.
The concept behind these ads is that they can be interactive, allowing multiple people to view the same ad simultaneously each time it appears.
Once the ad concludes, viewers will have the opportunity to participate in a real-time poll. Each time someone votes, the streamer hosting the stream will receive Bits as a reward.
Ultimately, a small celebration takes place.
How To Run Ads On Twitch – Step By Step
To run any type of ads on your channel, you will need to set that up.
But don’t worry; this process is very easy to navigate.
Here are the simple steps you need to follow:
And that’s it. That’s how you can run ads manually on your stream.
One important factor to consider is that when you run a 30-second ad, you are unable to run another ad for 10 minutes.
Similarly, after running a 60-second ad, you must wait at least another 20 minutes before the next one.
If you have a stream deck, you can add the ad quick action to it. Once you do this, you will be able to run 30-second ads every 3 minutes. While I don’t recommend doing this, it is something that becomes possible.
How to Disable Pre-Roll Ads on Twitch Streams
One of the advantages of being an Affiliate in Twitch’s program is that you can completely disable ads on your channel if you believe it will enhance your viewers’ experience.
To ensure that these automatic ads do not appear in your streams, you will need to schedule regular ad breaks during them.
This means that during your stream, you can have a single ad break that your viewers will fully understand, and it can actually serve as a great opportunity for all of you to take a break if needed.
To accomplish this, you must follow these steps:
Conclusion
Running ads on Twitch may not constitute the largest portion of your income, but it can certainly serve as a valuable supplement to your monthly earnings.
While some new viewers may not appreciate this during the live streaming, it is essential for you to generate income from the live broadcasts you conduct.
However, most people are accustomed to ads on the Internet, so having them on Twitch should be one of your least concerns.
Twitch provides numerous options on the platform, allowing for effective advertisements that align with current trends, pop culture, and the size of your audience.
Overall, ads on Twitch are straightforward to use, and you can gain numerous benefits from incorporating them.
FAQ
How much does it cost to run an ad on Twitch?
There is no specific answer to this question, as it depends on a lot of factors, like where is the majority of the viewers and, which streams your products get advertised on, and even more factors that come into play.
Is it worth running ads on Twitch?
Twitch has a lot of different options for ad types, and having in mind the fact that they even try to integrate interactive ads, it’s very worth it to give this platform a chance when deciding where to advertise your product.
