Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

YouTube's Biggest Draw Plays Games, Earns $4 Million a Year

online.wsj.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 55 posts

Re: YouTube's Biggest Draw Plays Games, Earns $4 Million a Year

#21

Post by vinceguidry »

minimaxir wrote: post #6
krisgee wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It works, 4 million dollars a year can attest to that. So even though I intensely dislike it I can't really argue against it.

The same "I can't argue with it because it works" logic can be used for startups who "growth hack" their way to success even if it means harassing their users with interrupting modals and deceptive links. That doesn't make it unimpeachable. Atleast with PewDiePie, you know what to expect.

> startups who "growth hack" their way to success

These exist? I mean, obviously the 'growth hacking' exists. Is there an example of a startup who managed to build a real business solely on the basis of these tactics? One that 'you can't argue with'? I wouldn't call Groupon a real business.

Re: YouTube's Biggest Draw Plays Games, Earns $4 Million a Year

#22

Post by quink »

imaginenore wrote: post #17
minimaxir wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you think PewDiePie is ridiculous but still popular with kids, you won't believe YouTube's Minecraft subculture.

Or HowToBasic. https://www.youtube.com/user/HowToBasic

For me, the only surprise was that the guy is from Perth - my number 2 guess - instead of Sydney's inner west or south or Campbelltown, which was my #1 general area guess.

Re: YouTube's Biggest Draw Plays Games, Earns $4 Million a Year

#23

Post by aclements18 »

Not to take anything away from this young man (and Maker Studios) success here, but I thought it might be a good time to point out how YouTube math works. If his channel generates $4 million in ad revenue, Google/YouTube keeps about 45% and issues a check to Maker for the remaining $2.2m. Maker then takes another 10-30%.

Still a substantial sum in the end, but I felt the title may potentially be misleading.

Re: YouTube's Biggest Draw Plays Games, Earns $4 Million a Year

#24

Post by nikster »

sixQuarks wrote: post #4

When I was a kid, I always promised myself I would never become one of those lame adults that said things like "kids these days, look at the junk they listen/watch etc...!". PewDiePie has single-handily made me break that promise. WTF are kids watching these days????

I have a 7 year old son who loves nothing more than youtube videos of a guy playing Zombies vs. Plants and commenting on it.

Of course being a kid his video time is strictly limited.

But the fact that he would choose that activity on his iPad vs. playing all sorts of games makes me think there is something huge there. Huge as in the future of mass entertainment.

You know all those cheesy Sci-Fi books and movies where new sports are invented and masses of people cheering them?

This is the future. PewDiePie is competing with Formula 1 racing, World Cup Football, and prime time TV. He's got more people watching than most TV shows.

In some ways this this is just classic entertainment - good looking guy being funny, doing funny stuff. Take out YouTube and video games and it's the same formula for entertainment we've seen in the last 100 years.

PS: And yes you should stick with your promise.

Re: YouTube's Biggest Draw Plays Games, Earns $4 Million a Year

#26

Post by MichaelGG »

vinceguidry wrote: post #21
minimaxir wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The same "I can't argue with it because it works" logic can be used for startups who "growth hack" their way to success even if it means harassing their users with interrupting modals and deceptive links. That doesn't make it unimpeachable. Atleast with PewDiePie, you know what to expect.

> startups who "growth hack" their way to success These exist? I mean, obviously the 'growth hacking' exists. Is there an example of a startup who managed to build a real business solely on the basis of these tactics? One that 'you can't argue with'? I wouldn't call Groupon a real business.

Reddit setup fake accounts/content.

RapGenius seems to have had a guy doing some underhanded promotion.

LinkedIn still does this stuff (or maybe it just started).

Safe to assume there are others.

Re: YouTube's Biggest Draw Plays Games, Earns $4 Million a Year

#27

Post by nikster »

krisgee wrote: post #3
minimaxir wrote: post #2

PewDiePie is an interesting case. The YouTube gaming community envies his popularity so much that nearly every gaming commentator has tried to emulate his tactics: face-cams which overlaying game footage, exaggerated reactions to on-screen content, merchandizable catch-phrases, and nicknames for viewer fandom. Some have been nearly as successful as PewDiePie (Tobuscus is one), but PewDiePie has effectively created a…

It works, 4 million dollars a year can attest to that. So even though I intensely dislike it I can't really argue against it.

I don't watch that channel obviously but he's having fun and entertaining lots of people.

I can't find anything wrong with that to be honest. It's not about making money for me, it's about how you make money. He's not scamming anyone, he's just providing content and people choose to watch it. And it's probably still better than most of what's on TV.

Re: YouTube's Biggest Draw Plays Games, Earns $4 Million a Year

#28

Post by rasz_pl »

sixQuarks wrote: post #4

When I was a kid, I always promised myself I would never become one of those lame adults that said things like "kids these days, look at the junk they listen/watch etc...!". PewDiePie has single-handily made me break that promise. WTF are kids watching these days????

pretty much this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK8ednS0skQ

Re: YouTube's Biggest Draw Plays Games, Earns $4 Million a Year

#30

Post by fekberg »

aclements18 wrote: post #23

Not to take anything away from this young man (and Maker Studios) success here, but I thought it might be a good time to point out how YouTube math works. If his channel generates $4 million in ad revenue, Google/YouTube keeps about 45% and issues a check to Maker for the remaining $2.2m. Maker then takes another 10-30%. Still a substantial sum in the end, but I felt the title may potentially be misleading.

> The 24-year-old Mr. Kjellberg, who created PewDiePie five years ago, has parlayed his persona into a brand name that pulls in the equivalent of $4 million in ad sales a year, most of it pure profit.

If it's $4 million "mostly profit" I would take that as what he gets before taxes. If he pays his taxes in Sweden I think closer to 70% of that would disappear.

Post reply on HN