PewDiePie signs exclusive deal to stream on YouTube

Felix Kjellberg aka PewDiePie has signed an exclusive live-streaming deal with YouTube. 

The 30-year-old YouTuber has become the platform’s most recognisable personality, having over 104 million subscribers to his channel. 

He previously live-streamed content on competitor Dlive after signing a deal back in 2019, but now he’s returning to YouTube as it becomes a bigger focus for the creator in 2020. 

In a statement, PewDiePie said: “YouTube has been my home for over a decade now and live streaming on the platform feels like a natural fit as I continue to look for new ways to create content and interact with fans worldwide. 

“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.”

PewDiePie has endured through well-publicised scandals while on YouTube, including using racist slurs on stream and making anti-semitic “jokes” which resulted in the cancellation of his Scare PewDiePie show on YouTube Red. 

His signing with YouTube comes at a time when big streaming companies are looking to snap up big online personalities, with the likes of Ninja and Shroud switching to Mixer, while DrLupo, LIRIK and more have signed with Twitch. 

Recently, PewDiePie attracted worldwide attention for his subscriber battle against Indian record company T-Series.