Running Ads
Smart ad management can enhance both your stream’s revenue and your viewers’ experience. Planned ad breaks help you control when ads appear during your stream, preventing midroll ads from disrupting key moments. Running ads during natural breaks (such as stretch breaks, between games, or while transitioning activities) can help you maintain the balance of your content flow.
The Ad Incentive program rewards consistent ad scheduling with additional revenue opportunities . A reliable ad schedule can help regular viewers know what to expect. By incorporating ads thoughtfully into your streaming structure, you can create a more professional and sustainable experience.
Ad Placement
Twitch’s Ad Manager tool allows you to set your ad schedule and maximize their potential ad revenue while maintaining a positive viewing experience. Not all viewers will see ads due to locations or subscription status. Picture-by-Picture ads deliver an uninterrupted ad-viewing experience by allowing viewers to see the stream while an ad break is occurring. Picture-by-Picture ads are available to monetized broadcasters streaming in any channel Category, keeping viewers connected.
TWITCH TIP:
Ad notifications can alert you prior to an ad starting so you can inform chat, adjust content if needed, or snooze an Ad Break from starting.
Pre-Roll Ads
Pre-roll ads are short video ads that automatically play when viewers join an Affiliate or Partner live stream. These ads are a way for advertisers to reach an audience while generating revenue for the creators.
Disabling Pre-Roll Ads
Streamers can disable pre-rolls ads by running ad breaks during their streams. Streamers tend to prefer having pre-roll ads disabled because it can be perceived as disruptive for a viewer to join a stream and then have to watch ads first. Running a specific amount of mid-roll ads will grant your channel a period of no pre-roll ads.
Streamers can run 30 seconds of ads every 10 minutes to prevent pre-roll ads, in the following options:
- 30 seconds of ads..................................................................10 minutes
- 1 minute of ads........................................................................20 minutes
- 1.5 minutes of ads...................................................................30 minutes
- 2 minutes of ads......................................................................40 minutes
- 2.5 minutes of ads...................................................................50 minutes
- 3 minutes of ads......................................................................60 minutes
TWITCH TIP:
The Creator Dashboard shows a countdown timer with how long pre-roll ads remain off.
Snoozing Ads
Streamers can delay upcoming ads by snoozing them for 5 minutes. Notifications can be turned on to provide alerts on your dashboard and above your chat when ads are inbound, so you can decide if you’d like to push them back by snoozing. Ads can be snoozed up to three times in a row, before an ad will play.
Twitch streamers can manage, delay, or "snooze" upcoming ad breaks in their Creator Dashboard to avoid interrupting high-engagement moments. Streamers can adjust settings to allow moderators to snooze ads on their behalf.
Twitch Tip:
You can choose to automatically snooze ads during high engagement moments, like Hype Trains.
Making the Most of Ads
You can make the most of ads on your channel by strategically running them during natural breaks in your content. Thoughtful ad placement keeps viewers engaged while maximizing moments where ads fit best.
- Stream Starting Soon: viewers are already waiting for stream, so it is ideal
- Transition Times: natural pauses, like switching games or activities
- Snack, Stretch & Bathroom Breaks: when you're away viewers won’t miss the action
- Major Milestones: after an accomplishment, give the audience (and yourself) a breather
- Low Engagement Moments: repetitive tasks or mundane activities are a good opportunity. le: Farming levels in a game or watering plants before progressing.
Communicate with Viewers
Let your viewers know what to expect and that advertising supports your channel directly. Keep them in the loop when you take a break and let them know you’re going to run a series of ads.
"BRB" (be right back) screens are great to use during breaks because they maintain brand presence and signal to viewers that you’re taking a break. Over time, regular viewers will learn your schedule and when you run ads. You will also become more comfortable in regards to how your show’s structure best incorporates advertisements without pulling away from what the audience wants to see.
Earning Money Through Ads
All monetized users earn money by running ads. As viewership increases, ad revenue earned also increases. Ad breaks can be between 30 seconds and three minutes long and the income earned depends on how many viewers see the ad - the more who see the ad, the more you earn.
Run multiple, shorter ad breaks throughout the course of your stream, rather than loading them up at the beginning or end. Viewership tends to be highest in the middle which maximizes earnings, compared to the start where viewers are arriving and the end when they are exiting.
Turbo
Turbo is a monthly Twitch subscription program that can provide ad-free viewing, increased color customization, a badge, and more. Turbo is a great way for viewers to enjoy your favorite streams ad-free! Twitch Partners and Affiliates still earn ad revenue from viewers with Turbo.
- Ad-free Viewing Across Twitch - no video or banner ads, except as part of channel sponsorships.
- You may still see streamer-enabled promotions on channels and Twitch-promoted content on non-channel pages.
- Expanded Emoticon Set - Choose from 2 additional sets of emoticons.
- Custom Chat Username Colors - Stand out in chat with a custom username color.
- Chat Badge - Represent Turbo proudly with an exclusive chat badge.
- Extended Broadcast Storage - Save your past broadcasts on Twitch for 60 days instead of the standard 7 Days.