mesaSep 5, 2025

"Very dramatic shift" - Linus Tech Tips opens up about the channel's declining viewership

A lot of Youtube channels are reporting declining viewership lately.

EX1: https://youtube.com/watch?v=cpVnx4_yqTo
EX2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF0tmhEtVJE

Fun times. Looks like a lot of channels are seeing a decline not just Linus. Hes just the latest to talk about it.

Then I saw this article as well and thought I would share.

Anyone here youtube creators? Are you seeing the same thing, a general downturn in viewership?

"Very dramatic shift" - Linus Tech Tips opens up about the channel's declining viewership

Linus Sebastian, the founder of the Linus Tech Tips YouTube channel, has spoken out about its recent decline in viewership, describing it as a "very dramatic shift.

Show threadfox2263Sep 6, 2025

YouTube is hostile to viewers unless you pay them £20 a month.

It’s like 15 ads per 2 mins screen time with 2 being unstoppable and 1 being 3 minutes long. Slightly exaggerated but not far from the truth. It’s horrible. And they slow everything down too, the main video fake buffers whereas when you’re in premium it doesn’t.

I didn’t mind paying a fiver but had to do it via the moon to get it cheap but now they have stopped that.

Show threadiopqSep 6, 2025
Or you use adblock
Show threadfox2263Sep 6, 2025
I would but I primarily watch on my tv
Show threadhumanoidchaosSep 6, 2025

I assume you’re using a “smart” TV.

Those things only exist to take power away from you. You should hook up a PC or laptop to your TV with a wireless keyboard and mouse so you’re not being herded by techbros.

Show threadfox2263
I’m quite happy with my Apple TV and Plex
Sep 6, 2025 at 9:18amWeb
Show threadhumanoidchaosSep 6, 2025

Instead of using those, you could be using a free streaming site. You’ll get more content and it’s easier to set up.

Just type in the URL, and search for what you want.

Here’s one of the best sites I’ve found: hydrahd.io I guarantee they have significantly more offerings than either apple tv or your plex.

hydrahd - Watch Movies and Series in High Definition

hydrahd.io Watch Movies and Series in 1080p for free with no signup required. Biggest library

Show threadfox2263Sep 6, 2025

Free streaming sites are awful. I prefer my way thank you.

And I don’t mind paying for things, just not getting ripped off.

I buy things on 4k that are special, then on iTunes for in between and then high seas everything else. I have a decent home server.

Show threadhumanoidchaosSep 6, 2025

Free streaming sites are awful.

No they aren’t, lol. But whatever floats your boat.

I’ll be over here enjoying more things for a cheaper price and helping others do the same.

Show threadfox2263Sep 6, 2025
Free sites come and go. Usenet is eternal
Show threadNewNewAugustEastSep 6, 2025

It is so sad that isn’t true anymore. I know what usenet was, but today it is just a collection of paid companies. You can really tell because of all the honored take down requests.

Is there even a university or other public entity connected anymore?

Show threadNewNewAugustEastSep 6, 2025
Yeah, they are. So why do you think they set all of that up for you to freely stream torrents? What is in it for them? Data? Malware? What?
Show threadhumanoidchaosSep 6, 2025
Free streaming sites aren’t building empires by ripping off useful idiots. They simply make less money.
Show threadNewNewAugustEastSep 6, 2025
Really? I have a bridge to sell you. Talk about a tool…
Show threadhumanoidchaosSep 6, 2025
Okay buddy.
Show threadNewNewAugustEastSep 6, 2025
9 days on Lemmy and you are already being a jerk and using votes. Miss reddit do you?
Show threadhumanoidchaosSep 6, 2025
Your insecurity is showing.
Show threadprince of spaceSep 6, 2025
I have the same setup as you and just pay the Premium. One thing I would recommend is getting isponsorblocktv on your server. It skips the ad reads within the YouTube content and works on Apple TV. Every year or so I look for a tracker doing YouTube or a sonarr YouTube fork. The instinct to hoard data is strong. But none have worked consistently for me.
Show threadfox2263Sep 6, 2025

Ah good shout, I remember looking in to that a while back but never went ahead.

The hard thing about needing premium is I could likely easily not have it, but the scumbags limit downloads (cache) on YouTube kids to premium members, which comes in handy in a pickle for sure for my daughter.