Some interesting information has emerged from a recent survey of video gaming YouTube broadcasters, indicating a new trend when it comes to creating content — and it’s news that not everyone is crazy about.
The survey indicates that a large number of subscribers have accepted a deal from game developers and publishers to record videos about their upcoming products. Both those with large and small audiences were surveyed, with 70 percent having less than 5,000 subscribers, and 30 percent having more than 5,000. Out of the ones with a higher subscriber count, 26 percent have accepted money from a developer.
Image source: Gamasutra
Mike Rose of Gamasutra provided the results of said survey this past week, stating, “So clearly as you move up the subscriber scale, the bigger YouTubers are being offered cash for coverage or asking for cash to cover games, and at least a quarter of them are taking it. However, that doesn’t answer whether the smaller YouTubers would partake in the act if they were given the opportunity.”
As a result, the question of monetization among these YouTubers has been put into question. “We — video creators — live in complicated times,” one YouTuber said in expanded comments on Rose’s survey. “It is expected from our work to be free. Copyright holders don’t want us to monetize, no one likes ads, no one likes paid content – but we invest our free time into covering the games we love and want to share, basically giving free PR for the game itself. If a YouTuber asks for money for delivering great content, it’s not wrong – it’s compensation.”
Clearly some of the concern stems from users not being aware that YouTubers are being compensated for airing some content. The question then arises of obvious it should be when content is sponsored, and what responsibility YouTubers have to keep their audience informed.
What do you think
Source: Polygon
