YouTube to delay ads during high-engagement livestream moments

YouTube announced this week that it will start holding back ads during livestreams whenever chat activity peaks or viewers actively support creators through Super Chat, Super Stickers, or gift purchases. Up until now, the only reliable way to avoid ads during streams was by subscribing to YouTube Premium.

The Google-owned platform explained in a blog post that when a livestream chat becomes highly active, it wants to “protect that collective vibe.” Once YouTube’s system detects a surge in engagement, ads will automatically be paused for everyone watching at that moment.

According to the company, this change is meant to help creators keep the momentum of their streams going without interruptions, allowing viewers to stay fully engaged during key moments.

At the same time, YouTube is introducing an added benefit for fans who financially support creators. When a viewer sends a Super Chat, buys Super Stickers, or sends gifts, they will immediately receive a personal ad-free window right after completing their purchase. For context, Super Chat lets users pay to highlight their messages in the chat, while Super Stickers are paid images that help messages stand out more visibly.

These updates were announced alongside several other improvements for livestream creators. The platform noted that more creators globally can now receive gifts from viewers, with the feature now available in countries including Canada, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand.

In addition, viewers can now send GIFs in horizontal livestreams, expanding beyond the earlier limitation where GIFs were only supported in vertical streams, and this feature is available directly through mobile devices.

YouTube also revealed that creators can now stream simultaneously in both vertical and horizontal formats, while keeping all viewers connected through a single shared chat. The company highlighted that over 30% of live watch time in the U.S. in 2025 came from connected TVs, which is why it is focusing on making livestreams adaptable across different screen types.

This update comes shortly after YouTube increased subscription prices for its premium service in the U.S. The individual plan for YouTube Premium is rising from $13.99 to $15.99 per month, while the family plan is increasing from $22.99 to $26.99 per month.