Twitch streamer HasanAbi has hinted at what it would take to have him consider switching to YouTube. Twitch has been competing with the video hosting giant for top streaming talent, going so far as to offer multi-million dollar exclusive contracts to popular content creators. HasanAbi, one of the platform's most prolific and viewed streamers, is consistently questioned by his chat whether a transition to YouTube is on the cards.
HasanAbi, whose real name is Hasan Piker, began streaming on Twitch during March 2018, simultaneously employed at The Young Turks. Following various controversies and a shift in perspective, Piker progressed from traditional media ventures to streaming full-time, citing the absence of leftist voices across YouTube and Twitch as a motive for his decision. Since then, Hasan has amassed a significant audience, averaging approximately 30,000 viewers every stream, with a dedicated fanbase who will watch him ruthlessly criticize the Democratic and Republican parties and revel in how much Subnautica terrifies him.
With Twitch's recent revenue restructure, some viewers wondered if Piker would make the jump to YouTube whenever his contract came to end, a possibility which he unequivocally refuted during a stream on October 31. Piker stated, "there is no chance I will go to YouTube," and drew attention to the lack of "community functionality." He went further, accusing YouTube of not cultivating a "sense of community overall," but offered a caveat, declaring that "if YouTube's chat culture was better, then I would experiment," suggesting his outlook is subject to change.
Piker's appreciation for his audience is often laid bare to see, from the limited amount of advertisements he forces them through, to frequent heartfelt moments which see Turkish-American open up about his past, struggles, and present adoration for the community that enables the life he now enjoys. It makes sense that chat culture would be so integral to his choice of platform, as the man is rarely seen not interacting with those who tune in and contribute their opinions. Additionally, Piker has a significant financial incentive to remain on Twitch, as it was leaked that he is one of the highest earning streamers on the platform, which enabled him to purchase a $2.7 million house for himself and his family.
Top Twitch streamers like HasanAbi are due to incur a significant pay reduction, after the Amazon-owned streaming website announced that its premium 70/30 revenue split offered to large creators, would be scrapped and brought down to 50/50. The new policy was met with heavy criticism, negativity which has only been emboldened by recent incentives extended to streamers who would inundate their channels with advertisements.
Source: Dexerto