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The "Gamevasion" was one of the formats of Rocket Beans
Photo: Rocket Beans
Lower advertising income and slashed budgets: The production company Rocket Beans, which it describes itself as a "biotope for pop culture", sends most of its employees on short-time work.
The austerity measure will initially last three months, during which the broadcast schedule will be slightly cut.
In a blog post, Managing Director Arno Heinisch explains that "as a result of the energy crisis and the resulting tense economic situation, fewer orders are still being received" and "advertising budgets are being reduced or even completely withdrawn".
The loss of income is to be compensated for by reducing the working hours by 30 percent for the majority of employees - according to their own statements, more than 120 people were working for Rocket Beans at the end of 2022.
Fewer shipments in the coming months
That also means less content.
There should be no Saturday events in February, programs can run less frequently and the program can be further restricted at short notice.
Rocket Beans has multiple revenue streams.
In addition to advertising, membership fees and fan articles, the streaming pioneers also earn money with commissioned productions.
It was only in December that the company announced a new cooperation with the ARD youth service »funk«, which involves board games.
The fact that the business model was in trouble was already evident: Rocket Beans had to cancel the popular »Gamevasion« format at the Dreamhack gamer trade fair in Hanover.
Rocket Beans was initially launched in 2015 on the Twitch video platform, for which former moderators of the "Game One" program, among others, designed a 24-hour program.
In 2017, the company received the television award for the best moderation in an entertainment format.
But cuts had to be made as early as 2021: Rocket Beans has not always broadcast live since then.
At the Gamescom games fair in Cologne, the company took over part of the official digital program.
tmk