YouTube Signs PewDiePie To Exclusive Contract

The biggest names in streaming have joined forces once again. PewDiePie, also known as Felix Kjellberg, the controversial, yet immensely popular YouTube creator, has signed an exclusive live-streaming contract with YouTube. The announcement comes roughly one year after Kjellberg announced that he would be streaming exclusively on DLive, a blockchain-based streaming company. Despite the exclusive live-streaming deal, PewDiePie continued to release videos on YouTube.

"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," Kjellberg said in a press release.

"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 and YouTube have a rocky relationship. In 2017, YouTube canceled an original series starring Kjellberg following a slew controversies, including his saying the n-word during a live stream and a series of antisemitic jokes that resulted in Disney cutting ties with the YouTuber. Still, in that time, PewDiePie has grown into the site's biggest solo creator, boasting more than 104 million subscribers.

Last year, the joke Subscribe to PewDiePie ended in tragedy. After being evoked by the Christchurch mass murderer, PewDiePie encouraged fans to stop using the phrase.

In April 2019, PewDiePie announced that he would be taking his streaming services exclusively to the streaming service DLive. According to Pewds, the smaller blockchain-based site put creators first. However, exclusive rights were not permanent.

"DLive is great for me because I’m treated like a real partner just like all of the other streamers on their unique platform," he said at the time.

YouTube has yet to comment or disclose how much Kjellberg stands to make from the deal.