Twitch has posted new branded content guidelines leaving many streamers disappointed. After witnessing the initial community reaction, Twitch apologized for the confusion and frustration caused and promised to rewrite them.
The guidelines would limit on-stream logos to 3% of screen size and disallow burned-in video, display, and audio ads, which could have devastating effects on streamers.
Streamers would still be able to use channel page panel ads, products in the background of their stream, links in chat, discuss/unbox products, and play sponsored games, as stated in the guidelines.
Organizations like OTKnetwork said they will be leaving Twitch should the guidelines go through, as they pose a “direct attack on their business, staff, and all of the hard work that has been put into the organization”, according to Tips Out.
Twitch later responded to their policy change after witnessing the community backlash and said they “do not intend to limit streamers’ ability to enter into direct relationships with sponsors” and that “guidelines were intended to prohibit third-party ad networks from selling burned in video and display ads on Twitch”.
