I prefer not to support Google, so I’ve been using alternative platforms. However, I’ve noticed that the YouTubers I follow have stopped reuploading their videos to these platforms. Has anyone else observed this? What could be the reason behind this change?
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No platform pays nearly as well as YouTube does on average. If they upload to other platforms, and you watch the content on those other platforms, they’re going to make significantly less money than if you watch on YouTube. Even if there’s increased reach from uploading to multiple platforms, the creator will almost certainly make less—so there’s less than no incentive for them to upload elsewhere.
I believe Nebula pays fantastically well, at least according to Sam from Wendover Productions. This is attributed to the fact that Nebula charges a subscription and half the subscription fees are divvied up to the channels according to watch time.
However, he owns a significant portion of Nebula so he’s not a disinterested information source.
My annual subscription to Nebula expired last month. I didn’t renew. They seemed to have a mix of exactly what you get on YouTube and some peculiar TV documentaries that weren’t quite good enough to make brand name TV channels
I don’t think that from a purely “rational consumer” perspective Nebula is worth the $30 per year demanded. But to me, it’s like a Patreon subscription. I can support my favourite creators and I get some nice perks in return, like offline video downloads and advertising and sponsor-free programming. These perks are not worth $30 a year to me. But I will continue to support them anyway.
I’m broke, so if they exclusively upload to nebula, they aren’t getting anything from my view because it doesn’t happen.
Uploading to both though seems like a good idea
There are original series on Nebula that cost a lot to make so I understand that they need to recoup the investment on those.
But most videos are released on both platforms. The Nebula versions usually have extended cuts and are free of adverts and sponsors, but the programming is otherwise the same.
99% of the times when something like this happens it’s about money, so just follow the money…
One reason could be difference in how much the other platforms pay vs YouTube. Uploading multiple places also requires more effort and coordination, might not be worth it from their perspective…
I know that Peertube doesn’t have any built-in monetization right now, so they would probably be relying on viewer charity to make money on some platforms.
Some do but it’s an agreement with their uploaders and the instance owners.
Interesting. I know that most Fediverse stuff doesn’t allow ads on the platform, so do the creators just get a cut of any money donated to the instance?
No money.
Multiple major YouTubers would need to migrate simultaneously and make the new platform the only place to access their content before the viewers necessary for monetary gain move. And that is not likely to happen.
Not enough people to watch. But even on Youtube, only shorts can get views better than the regular videos. Most people don’t search for content and they don’t like ads.
