Twitch clamps down on TV show streams Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Twitch clamps down on TV show streams Pokimane first high-profile ban. News by Ed Nightingale News reporter Updated on 10 Jan 2022 57 comments Twitch is hitting back at content creators for streaming TV shows on their channels. The streaming platform isn't just used for gaming, and has recently seen a rise in TV show streams - something that isn't allowed due to DMCA copyright claims. Now - just like it did with the use of copyrighted music - Twitch is clamping down on these streams. Watch on YouTube Streaming and reacting to TV shows on Twitch isn't new. Twitch already has an in-built system for TV shows known as Watch Parties, although this is only available for streamers to watch Prime Video - understandable as Twitch is owned by Amazon. Instead, streamers are often streaming shows from elsewhere to their viewers, including copyrighted material. Recently, TV streams hit a new level of virality with TV chef Gordon Ramsay and his new show Next Level Chef. "What the Fuck is Twitch" -Gordon Ramsay @GordonRamsay @Twitch Everyone watching from twitch: pic.twitter.com/aELiN8Ixrv- triciaisabirdy (@triciaisabirdy) January 3, 2022 To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings One contestant on the show was a Twitch streamer, causing Ramsay to respond "what the fuck is Twitch?". A clip soon went viral. Ironically many streamers, including popular streamer xQc, regularly watch and react to his shows on their channels. Ramsay responded to Twitch directly in a jokey exchange, with Twitch offering Ramsay a lesson in streaming. Of course, but let's go big. We'll teach you how to live stream if you teach us how to cook a proper wellington.- Twitch (@Twitch) January 3, 2022 To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings This was all fun and games, but the streaming platform has made its first high profile ban for a TV stream, causing a swift turnaround. Pokimane has recently been watching anime shows on her channel and on 8th January she streamed six hours of Avatar The Last Airbender to her 8.8 million followers, earning her a temporary 48 hour ban. "Just to be clear, I'm not surprised and I don't think this is unfair," she tweeted afterwards. "imo, it was inevitable that publishers would take action, on me or someone else, during this react meta." just to be clear, i'm not surprised and i don't think this is unfair. imo, it was inevitable that publishers would take action, on me or someone else, during this react meta. will chat more about this monday, when I can further elaborate on the situation! - pokimane (@pokimanelol) January 9, 2022 To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings YouTube streamer Ludwig, who last year moved from Twitch, warned that watching TV shows was getting out of control. "Recently there has been a swath of people on Twitch just outright watching TV shows," he said on stream. "The purpose of this video is not to expose these streamers in the hopes that a company takes them down. It's more so because I think things have gotten out of hand. And I think we might need a bit of a course correction before this all comes crashing down." It's no surprise that streamers like Pokimane are now receiving bans for streaming TV shows, especially as they push the boundaries of allowed copyrighted content on the platform. Really, it's surprising that Twitch has taken this long to address the issue following the high profile DMCA music strikes over the last couple of years. That's why many games now include a streamer mode to avoid licensed music, such as FIFA 21, Cyberpunk 2077 and more recently Guardians of the Galaxy TV streams are just the latest content controversy to hit the platform as it wrestles to control its top streamers, following music strikes and last year's hot tub meta. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Atari will hold RollerCoaster Tycoon rights for another decade Ups and downs. 7 Lady Dimitrescu will be a tad smaller in Resident Evil Village's Mercenaries DLC Level the playing field. 1 Overwatch 2 suffers another DDoS attack and character roster bugs Mei Mei. 7 Nintendo Switch firmware update lets you take screenshots in the Switch Online app The app on your console, not your phone. 7 Latest Articles Atari will hold RollerCoaster Tycoon rights for another decade Ups and downs. 7 Jelly Deals Logitech's G Pro X gaming headset is its lowest-ever price during Amazon's Early Access sale Prime Members can get it for just £52. Jelly Deals Save over £500 off the retail price on this beefy ASUS TUF Dash gaming laptop from Amazon Under £1080 for an RTX 3070 laptop. Lady Dimitrescu will be a tad smaller in Resident Evil Village's Mercenaries DLC Level the playing field. 1 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store