Page 63 - Money - November 2018

;SVO NEW JOBS

like Fortnite that draw massive -* - +3 83 ;36/ %2( (3
followings, Moiz has created a
system that enables thousands of % +33( .3& 4)340) %6)
streamers to pay their bills with +3-2+ 83 &) %&0) 83 4%=
virtual “tip” money donated by
devoted fans. 8,)-6 6)28 š
The service has generated a
lot more than pocket change: —Ali Moiz, CEO of Streamlabs
Streamlabs says it processed
$36.7 million in tips between April
and June of this year. can rake in tips from your view- demographic watched only two and
“What gets me out of bed every ers. Like their restaurant counter- a half hours of traditional sports.
morning is we’re creating jobs,” parts, video game tips are option- “It’s no different to these fans
Moiz says. “By creating consistent al and generally small amounts than big sports stars or actors or
income for streamers who are paid as a token of appreciation. actresses,” Moiz says. “At its
struggling, we’re enabling them to On the back end, streamers can simplest level, it’s ‘I want to spend
do what they love.” hook their Streamlabs account up $5 and get my name and message
to PayPal and set a minimum tip on TV and get my favorite
GAME AND GET CASH amount. On the front end, all celebrity to reply to me.’”
Earning a living from video viewers have to do is enter how Streamlabs reports that
games may seem like a kid’s pipe much they want to pay, and click. last quarter, about 35,000 users
dream—and in many ways, it still Tips are accompanied by short made more than $100. Just under
is—but it’s become an increas- messages that appear on the 7,000 users earned over $1,000,
ingly real career option, at least screen and are often read aloud by meaning the vast majority are
for some. Tyler “Ninja” Blevins streamers. For an extra fee, fans making relatively small sums of
told CNBC in March that he’s can add a GIF or effect (confetti, money. And Streamlabs gives
earning $500,000 a month from hearts, bubbles, etc.) to make their the full amount of every tip to
subscribers who pay to watch comment stand out. the streamer.
him play Fortnite on Twitch Silly, sure, but also lucrative. Streamlabs derives most of
for 12 hours a day. That’s a The company says it’s on track to its revenue from its pro service,
rarity, though. raise $150 million for streamers by which costs $5.99 a month and
“Streamers really struggle to the end of 2018. gives members a bevy of options
make ends meet because the to enhance their interactions with
advertising market is pretty small THE STREAMING STARS other gamers.
and weak,” Moiz says. “If you’re These days, “watching is the new Even so, Moiz admits that his
starting a live-streaming channel playing,” Moiz says. “As gamers personal salary is “nowhere close”
today and you have a handful age, they find they don’t really to Ninja’s eye-popping income.
of fans, making income is incred- have time to play six hours That’s fine by him. Moiz says
ibly hard.” a day anymore. Watching 20 that at the end of the day, Stream-
Streamlabs OBS (Open minutes is a lot easier.” labs is about giving gamers the
Broadcaster Software) works In fact, it may be even more tools to be financially successful.
like this: You download a free addictive. A recent study by And if he happens to make a buck,
desktop application, log in, and content delivery firm Limelight too, that’s okay.
load your stream. Voilà—now Networks found that the average “When I’m having a bad day,
you’ve got access to a dashboard, gamer between the ages of 18 and [I think], ‘If I go to work and do
themed overlays, chats, alerts, 25 spent about three and a half a good job today, people are going
analytics, and more. hours a week watching someone to be able to pay their rent,’”
More important, however, you else play online. That same he says.

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