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PewDiePie: YouTube signs exclusive deal with videomaker PewDiePie signs exclusive live-streaming deal with YouTube
(about 3 hours later)
Videomaker PewDiePie has signed an exclusive deal to stream on YouTube. Gaming star PewDiePie has signed an exclusive deal to live-stream on YouTube, after switching to a rival platform in 2019.
PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, had amassed over 100m followers in 2019 when he abruptly announced he was leaving the platform. PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, is YouTube's biggest independent video-maker with more than 104 million subscribers.
He said returning to YouTube was a "natural fit" as he looked for new ways to connect with fans. But he signed an exclusive deal with rival platform Dlive in 2019.
The deal comes three years after YouTube, owned by Google, ended a separate deal with the video maker over anti-Semitic posts. Mr Kjellberg said returning to YouTube was a "natural fit" as he looked for new ways to connect with fans.
The 30-year old Swedish vlogger began posting videos on YouTube in 2010. They showed him playing and commenting on videogames he played. The 30-year-old Swedish video-maker began posting videos on YouTube in 2010.
He has particular success with his comedic reaction to horror games. From there he expanded out to videos on a wide range of topics including interactions with other YouTubers and his followers. He found success playing and commenting on video games, posting daily videos for several years.
In 2019 PewDiePie announced he would no longer be making videos for YouTube and would instead create content exclusively for Dlive - a live-stream platform that promised better financial returns for its content creators. At the time PewDiePie said he was taking a break from YouTube because he was "feeling very tired". But in 2019, he announced he would no longer be live-streaming on YouTube and would instead move to Dlive, which promised better financial returns for its content creators.
He gained 822,000 followers on the new platform.
In January 2020, PewDiePie took a short break from making YouTube videos because he was "feeling very tired", but he continued posting his regular videos on YouTube after his break.
Streaming warsStreaming wars
His return to YouTube comes as the video streaming giant battles with other platforms for popular video creators. Sites including Twitch and Mixer have been signing exclusive deals with live-stream gamers to boost audiences. The big video-streaming giants have been battling to secure exclusive deals with popular video-makers.
Earlier this year YouTube signed gamers Valkyrae, Muselk and LazarBeam to their platform. Earlier this year, YouTube signed gamers Valkyrae, Muselk and LazarBeam to its platform.
In a statement, PewDiePie said live streaming was a big part of his decision to return to YouTube. In a statement, PewDiePie said new features played a part in his decision to return to live-streaming on YouTube.
"Live streaming is something I'm focusing a lot on in 2020 and beyond, so to be able to partner with YouTube and be at the forefront of new product features is special and exciting for the future," he said. "Live-streaming is something I'm focusing a lot on in 2020 and beyond, so to be able to partner with YouTube and be at the forefront of new product features is special and exciting for the future," he said.
Controversial comments Controversial moments
As PewDiePie's popularity has grown so has the controversy surrounding him. PewDiePie's rise to stardom has not been without its controversial moments.
In 2017, PewDiePie posted a series of videos that include Nazi imagery and anti-Semitic messages. In 2017, Disney cut ties with the video-maker over allegations of anti-Semitism.
The posts caused him to lose deals with Disney Maker Studios and YouTube Red - the company's premium subscription platform. Being removed from YouTube Red meant he could still post videos to his YouTube channels but would earn less for adverting. The decision came after several videos he had released were found to contain Nazi references or anti-Semitic imagery.
Later that year, he used the N-word during a live stream and praised a white-supremacist in a separate video. PewDiePie apologized for both incidents. Mr Kjellberg accepted the material was offensive, but said he did not support "any kind of hateful attitudes".
During an award speech in 2019, he pledged to give $50,000 (£40,177) to the Anti-Defamation League, a group that fights anti-Semitism and hate speech. But he later rescinded that promise saying he would instead donate to a charity he was "personally passionate about". He stressed that the material was included as a joke, which should have been clear from the context.
In a statement Google, YouTube's parent company, said PewDiePie's previous comments were "not in line with our values". "Though this was not my intention, I understand that these jokes were ultimately offensive," he said.
A second series of Mr Kjellberg's show Scare PewDiePie was also dropped from YouTube Red, Google's subscription video platform.
Later that year, he used a racial slur during a live-stream. PewDiePie apologised for the incident.
Commenting on his return to live-streaming on YouTube, the company said PewDiePie's previous comments were "not in line with our values".
"Were he to violate our policies today, we'd take action accordingly just as we would with any other creator," a company spokesperson said."Were he to violate our policies today, we'd take action accordingly just as we would with any other creator," a company spokesperson said.