Twitch Pre-Roll Ads: Should You Have Them & How to Disable (2024)

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Imagine being eager to join a live stream when suddenly, a pre-roll ad pops up. While it may seem inconvenient, these ads play a significant role in helping streamers earn a living doing what they love—providing you with quality entertainment. In this article, we'll explore how streamers can make the most of pre-roll ads and keep visitors on their channel instead of running away from pre-roll ads.

Managing Pre-Roll Ads with Ad Breaks

Twitch allows Partners and Affiliates to disable pre-roll ads for a specific duration by running ad breaks during their streams. By strategically timing breaks, streamers can ensure a more seamless viewing experience for their audience. Below is an explanation of how long ad breaks are on Twitch, plus how they impact pre-roll ad frequency:

• a 30-second ad break turns off pre-roll ads for 10 minutes
• a 1-minute ad break grants 20 minutes of uninterrupted content
• longer ad breaks (1 minute and 30 seconds or more) give viewers 30 minutes without pre-roll interruptions
• a 3-minute ad break gives viewers a full hour of uninterrupted content

How to Accrue Pre-Roll Free Time

Every ad break streamer's run accumulates pre-roll ad-free time. If there is remaining ad-free time before initiating a new ad break, the time accrued from the latest break is added to the existing total, up to a maximum of 1 hour. Streamers can keep track of their remaining pre-roll ad-free time through the countdown timer displayed on their dashboard.

Pre-roll Ads Impact on Revenue

While it's understandable that some viewers may initially view pre-roll ads as annoying, it's important to recognize their role in supporting streamers. Revenue generated from these ads allows content creators to invest in better equipment, improve stream quality, and deliver engaging content consistently. By embracing pre-roll ads as an integral part of the streaming ecosystem, viewers passively contribute to the success of their favorite streamers by simply sitting through a pre-roll ad.

The impact of pre-roll ads on revenue can be substantial, influenced by factors such as subscriber count, geographical location, and streaming hours. Streamers who regularly run ad breaks, disabling pre-roll ads during the specified durations (e.g., 3 minutes per hour, 1 minute 30 seconds per 30 minutes), can earn between $1-$2 per month per viewer. Monitoring revenue through the dashboard provides streamers with valuable insights into their earnings, showing the true value of these ad breaks for monetizing their passion.

If you're a streamer, it’s important to note that pre-roll ads can cause new viewers to leave your live stream. Play around with different ad breaks to see how it impacts your viewership. If you plan to utilize ad breaks to disable pre-roll ads, time them with snack and restroom breaks (that you need to take anyway). Let your viewers know that you're taking a break and for how long, and post in chat when you'll be back so those coming in can see it.

Twitch pre-roll ads may be perceived as a minor inconvenience, but they play a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods of streamers. By embracing ad breaks and strategically managing pre-roll ads, streamers harness the power of generating revenue while keeping viewers engaged.

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