The Australian streamer PandaTV (35) usually shows WoW. He wanted to hold a marathon stream on Twitch to support a charitable cause. After 13 hours, he ended the stream, but the next message came from the hospital.
This is PandaTV:
- The streamer PandaTV is a medium-sized streamer for World of Warcraft. Last year, he streamed over 2300 hours of WoW, averaging more than 6 hours of WoW a day. On average, about 447 viewers watched him.
- PandaTV completed a marathon stream in July 2021, being live for over 840 hours. He was inspired by Ludwig’s continuous stream. These streams are conducted with sleep breaks. They are called “Subathons” – the goal is to gain as many Subscribers as possible through a special event, willing-paying subscribers.
- Now PandaTV wanted to hold a 24-hour marathon on Twitch, but after 13 hours, he ended the stream.
What kind of marathon stream was it? PandaTV started a stream for the charity movement “RUOK” (based on Are you okay? – How are you?). This is an Australian organization that works on suicide prevention.
“Something is not okay”
This is how the stream ended: PandaTV apparently started the stream already sleep-deprived. During the stream, he realized that he probably would not be able to continue.
After 13 hours, he complained of pain in the back of his knees and arms. He then told his viewers that he would now do “the right thing” and end the stream early, but took the time to thank the donors and promised to continue the stream.
In the last minutes of the stream, PandaTV said he was shaking and “something was wrong.” The back of his knee was swollen, his arms hurt, and he felt confused:
I want to do something wise for once, even though I usually don’t do this. I’m sorry for closing the stream during a Subathon.
PandaTV Twitch streamer
This is how it continued: PandaTV originally wanted to go to bed and wait for the doctor. However, when the fever did not improve after 3 hours, he went to the emergency room, as he later reported.
The next sign of life from the streamer after the end of the live broadcast then came via Twitter from the bed of a hospital.
- In the hospital, the streamer was seen connected to monitors and devices. He said he still didn’t know what was wrong with him. Some tests were being conducted. He urged his viewers: “Be careful when doing long streams.” Although he could not say if his current condition was related to the stream, it was better to be cautious.
- The next day he reported back and looked quite exhausted. He had been in a “critical condition” overnight and was in a private room. About 20 doctors had looked after him, but there was still no diagnosis.
- In another report, PandaTV said he had two problems: swollen lymph nodes and the infectious disease cellulitis in his leg, causing a burning sensation from within.
The Twitch streamer makes it clear: Some had written on Twitter after the illness, “So this is what happens when you get vaccinated [against Corona]” – but he had not received any vaccination yet.
For streamers of this size, Twitch can become “self-exploitation”
This is behind it: A streamer of PandaTV’s size is in a difficult position on Twitch: If he streams 6 hours every day – even on weekends and holidays – that is certainly his main job. However, it’s hard to live off an average of 447 viewers. There are hardly any chances for advertising deals and sponsorships.
According to a display, PandaTV has 2378 subscribers – they bring in about €5000 a month. PandaTV depends on keeping these willing-paying subscribers. Their subscription only lasts for one month; if they do not renew it, the source of income dries up.
From other streamers, we know that especially the desire to always provide something for the loyal viewers leads to immense performance pressure, over which one neglects their own health and “work-life” balance. Twitch streamers have said in the past that they felt like “slaves to the stream,” had “sacrificed everything to Twitch” or complained. “Twitch consumes their life.”
Such marathon streams on Twitch have ended badly in the past:
