STOP Multi-Format Streaming (Until this is fixed) | Creator News

Caution Advised for Multi-Format Streaming

YouTube has introduced a multi-aspect streaming feature that allows for dual ingestion, enabling creators to broadcast both vertical and horizontal live streams simultaneously. While this appears to be a powerful tool for reaching different audience segments across the platform, current data suggests that creators should approach this feature with significant caution.

Initial feedback from the community indicates that the system may not be performing as expected. In one specific case, a creator who typically averages 1,000 viewers per hour on a standalone vertical stream experienced a drastic decline when switching to the dual system, seeing their viewership drop to just 238 viewers. Most concerning is the distribution of this traffic: only 6% of that audience originated from the Shorts feed.

The Algorithmic Conflict

When analyzing these numbers, it is important to consider whether this decline is simply a result of increased competition as more creators gain access to the tool. However, the low percentage of traffic coming from the Shorts feed suggests a deeper algorithmic issue.

The data indicates that YouTube’s algorithms may currently be treating dual-ingestion streams as standard horizontal broadcasts rather than prioritizing them within the vertical feed. Essentially, by trying to serve two formats at once, creators may be inadvertently signaling to the algorithm that the content is horizontal, thereby losing the discovery advantages of the Shorts feed. As one community member aptly described it, the current state of the feature feels like an attempt to “crossbreed a bulldog and a rhinoceros.” Until YouTube provides updates or fixes regarding how these streams are categorized and pushed to vertical audiences, sticking to standalone formats may be the safer bet for maintaining reach.

New Tools for Vertical Content and Collaborations

Despite the hurdles with multi-format streaming, there are several positive updates for creators focusing on vertical content and collaborative growth.

Practice Mode for Vertical Live

To help creators refine their delivery and technical setup before going live to a full audience, the YouTube app has introduced a practice mode specifically for vertical live streams. This allows for testing audio, framing, and stability without the pressure of an active broadcast.

Expanded Collaboration Limits

YouTube has also increased the capacity for video collaborations. The limit for participants in a collab has been raised from five to 10 people. This expansion opens up new possibilities for larger group dynamics, such as 10-player lobbies in gaming or panel-style discussions, allowing creators to bring more voices into a single collaborative project.

Networking and the Return of YouTube DMs

In a move toward better on-platform networking, YouTube is quietly rolling out Direct Messages (DMs) within the YouTube Studio app. While this feature is still in its early stages—currently requiring users to respond to messages via the main YouTube app rather than Studio itself—the addition of a dedicated requests folder indicates a shift toward making professional networking more seamless.

The Risk of Platform Dependency

While integrated DMs make it easier to connect without hunting for email addresses or sharing external invite links, there is a significant caveat: platform volatility. Historically, YouTube has introduced and then removed communication features, often leading to permanent data loss for the creators involved.

For this reason, it is highly advisable to maintain an independent email list as a backup. Building a business that relies solely on a single platform’s internal messaging system is risky; diversifying your communication channels ensures that you own your connection to your collaborators and partners regardless of platform changes. Additionally, creators should be aware that there is an age requirement for this feature, as users must be 18 years old to utilize YouTube DMs, which may create privacy or accessibility gaps for younger creators.

The “Dead Weight” Threshold: Industry Realities

Recent insights from the industry highlight a stark reality regarding how platforms and sponsors view smaller channels. A former CPO of Twitch recently revealed internal perspectives on feed impressions, stating that streams with fewer than 1,000 concurrent viewers (CCVs) are often viewed as “dead weight.”

This perspective is driven by the economics of the entertainment industry, which operates primarily on CPMs (cost per mille), or ad rates per 1,000 viewers. When a stream falls below this threshold, it becomes significantly less attractive from a pure advertising revenue standpoint.

The Sponsor Visibility Gap

This “invisible” threshold is not unique to Twitch. According to a YouTube creator marketing playbook shared on LinkedIn, Google categorizes creators into three primary tiers for ad campaigns:

• Micro-creators: 1,000 to 10,000 subscribers.
• Media creators: 10,000 to 100,000 subscribers.
• Macro-creators: 100,000+ subscribers.

Notably, there is no mention of creators with fewer than 1,000 subscribers in these tiers. This suggests that for many corporate sponsors and automated ad campaigns, creators below the 1k mark are effectively invisible.

Opportunities for Small Creators

While being “invisible” to major corporate sponsors can be discouraging, it does not mean there are no opportunities for growth or monetization. Especially within the gaming sector, smaller creators can find success by collaborating directly with indie developers and publishers. Platforms such as Lurkit and Keymailer provide avenues for these partnerships, allowing creators to build a portfolio and an audience before hitting the thresholds required by macro-sponsors.

AI Training and Regulatory Updates

As generative AI continues to integrate into streaming platforms, creators should remain vigilant about their data. There are indications that Twitch may be utilizing content from smaller streamers to train its generative AI models, potentially through an automatic opt-in system upon feature launch. If you are not being compensated for the use of your content in AI training, it is critical to check your account settings and disable these options where possible.

Finally, regarding the legal landscape in Europe, there is ongoing uncertainty surrounding AI labels. While there has been a push for clarity on EO (Enhanced Output) declaration rules and how they align with EU law, official responses from YouTube are still pending. Once the necessary information is available, more detailed guidance will be provided to help creators navigate these regulatory requirements.

Original transcript

Transcript

Even though the multi-aspect streaming feature now offers dual ingestion for vertical and horizontal live streams, you might want to approach it with caution for now. We’ve received initial data from our community, and unfortunately, it’s not promising. One of our creators, who typically averages 1,000 viewers per hour on a standalone vertical stream, saw a significant drop to 238 viewers with the new dual system, with only 6% of that audience coming from the Shorts feed.

However, we need to consider this in context. Is the decline solely due to increased competition now that more users have access to the feature? Possibly, but the 6% ratio indicates a separate issue. It strongly suggests that YouTube’s algorithms are currently treating these dual streams as standard horizontal ones and are not prioritizing them in the vertical feed. As one of our community members put it, they are attempting to “crossbreed a bulldog and a rhinoceros.” Keep an eye on multi-aspect streaming but wait for initial updates.

On a positive note, the YouTube app has introduced a practice mode for vertical live streams. Shifting to collaborations, YouTube has increased the limit for video collabs from five to 10 people. A quick question for you: Have you implemented any of our do’s and don’ts from the recent collab tutorial? Share your experiences in the comments; I’m curious about how 10-player lobbies are working out for your videos.

Regarding collaborations, YouTube is quietly rolling out Direct Messages (DMs) within the YouTube Studio app. Currently, you still need to respond to these messages from the main app, but there’s a dedicated requests folder. This suggests that networking directly on the platform will soon be possible instead of searching for email addresses or sharing invite links.

Nonetheless, it’s advisable to maintain your email list as a backup because the longevity of YouTube DMs is uncertain. They have been removed in the past, leading to data loss. Having multiple communication channels is essential for building a business that outlasts its platform. Also, remember that you must be 18 years old to use YouTube DMs, which creates a potential privacy loophole.

While YouTube enhances its networking tools, Twitch’s former CPO recently revealed internal conflicts over feed impressions. He shared a stark quote that many of us already suspected: At Twitch, streams with fewer than 1,000 concurrent viewers (CCVs) are considered “dead weight.” This is because the entertainment industry operates on CPMs (cost per mille), or ad rates per 1,000 viewers.

This aligns with a YouTube creator marketing playbook I encountered on LinkedIn this week. Google categorizes creators for ad campaigns into three tiers: micro-creators (1-10K subscribers), media creators (10K-100K), and macro-creators (100K+). Notably absent is any mention of creators with fewer than 1,000 subscribers, indicating they are largely invisible to sponsors.

However, don’t be disheartened, especially in gaming, as there are ample opportunities to collaborate with indie developers and publishers using platforms like Lurkit or Keymailer. Returning to Twitch, the platform appears to utilize small streamers’ content for training generative AI, seemingly with an automatic opt-in once the feature launches. If this comes to pass, be sure to check your settings and disable AI training if you’re not being compensated.

As a final update from last week, we aimed to include your questions in a video about AI labels in the EU, but we’re still awaiting official responses from YouTube regarding EO declaration rules and their alignment with EU law. I’ll create the video as soon as I have the necessary information. In the meantime, feel free to share any questions about AI labels in the comments, and I’ll incorporate them into the video once it’s produced. Subscribe for weekly creator news, and I’ll see you next time!

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