bent pixels

Bent Pixels August Insights

Welcome to the latest Bent Pixels newsletter! This edition highlights the Bent Pixels partnership with Crunchyroll, key updates in digital video advertising, and the latest trends in sports content and YouTube engagement.

Bent Pixels x Crunchyroll

Bent Pixels is thrilled to announce our Ad Sales Partnership with Crunchyroll, the ultimate fan destination for anime and global streaming platform platform with 15 million monthly subscribers. This collaboration expands our premium pre-roll media targeting to Crunchyroll’s global AVOD platform across Web, CTV, Mobile, and the Crunchyroll App.
Key highlights from Crunchyroll’s Reach:
  • 160M+ social followers globally
  • 540M minutes watched per month
  • Presence in 200+ countries
  • 90% of users play video games
The anime market:
  • $26B globally in 2022
  • Projected $37B by 2025
This partnership strengthens Bent Pixels’ position as a leading Gaming and Entertainment Digital Video organization, broadening our reach and targeting capabilities with perfectly aligned audiences. Bundling media targeted across these platforms is a win-win for agencies and brands.

Gen Z x Industry Stats

YouTube Dominates: YouTube is the top platform for Gen Z, with 89.3% of them using it regularly. For legacy brands, connecting with this demographic on YouTube is crucial for long-term success.
Fan Engagement: 80% of surveyed fans turn to YouTube at least weekly to watch content they’re passionate about.
Industry Milestone: YouTube has made history as the first streaming platform to capture over 10% of total TV viewing, according to the latest Nielsen report.

Leverage YouTube to stay ahead in capturing the attention of Gen Z

Updates to YouTube DVIP

Did you know that your upfront commitment with YouTube can now include a wider range of spend?

Starting with the 2024/2025 deal cycle, all media and YouTube spend through any Google buy-side ad server – including DV360 – will count towards Google’s Video Incentive Program (VIP). With that being said, DV360 Programmatic Guaranteed campaigns will now apply to your overall upfront partnerships that your company may have in place.

What does this mean for your brand?

Beginning October 2024, your media spend with Bent Pixels will fully count towards existing DVIP commitments via Programmatic Guaranteed as the Bent Pixels content inventory runs across YouTube. This offers more flexibility & transparency in how you can meet your VIP targets while leveraging premium content through trusted partners like Bent Pixels.

Gamescom 2024 Highlights

  • Borderlands 4 announced, releasing in 2025.
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 showcased new 90s-themed gameplay.
  • Civilization VII set to launch on February 11, 2025.
  • Little Nightmares III introduces co-op mode.
  • Genshin Impact coming to Xbox on November 20, 2024.

EA Sports College Football 25 Tops U.S. Sales Charts

EA Sports College Football 25 dominated July 2024, becoming the best-selling game of the year in the U.S. so far. Its console-only availability also spiked hardware sales, driving $4.8B in revenue for July-a 10% YoY increase. With the college football season around the corner, expect this title to keep topping the charts.

Creator Spotlight on GOAT Farm: Behind the Scenes with Football's Elite

One of our exciting new partnerships is with GOAT Farm, a channel that offers fans an intimate glimpse into the personal lives of NFL and college football players. Through raw, authentic stories on YouTube and TikTok (with 422k Tik Tok followers), GOAT Farm expands football content beyond the game, offering brands new opportunities to connect with an engaged audience.

P.S. We’ll be at TwitchCon- let’s connect!

Have a great Labor Day weekend 🙂

Consent Preferences

© 2025 Bent Pixels

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Las Vegas Office

Los Angeles Office

New York Office

Bent Pixels Asia

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© 2025 Bent Pixels

Bent Pixels Gaming Content Eco-System

Podcasts

Unique Viewers

0 M

Views

–

Watch Time (hours)

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Gender: Female / Male (%)

18.9  /  82.0

Hawk vs. Wolf

Device Views

Age Demo

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Entertainment

Unique Viewers

0 B

Views

–

Watch Time (hours)

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Gender: Female / Male (%)

26.0  /  74.0

Adam Savage

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Age Demo

Bent Pixels Gaming Content Eco-System

What’s trending

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0 M+

Views

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Watch Time (hours)

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Gender: Female / Male (%)

9.0  /  90.1

Fornite

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Esports​

Unique Viewers

0 M+

Views

0 M+

Watch Time (hours)

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Gender: Female / Male (%)

12.1  /  87.7

FaZe Clan

Device Views

Age Demo

Bent Pixels Gaming Content Eco-System

Female Gamers

Unique Viewers

0 M+

Views

0 M+

Watch Time (hours)

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Gender: Female / Male (%)

21.1  /  76.3

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BrookeAb

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Bent Pixels Gaming Content Eco-System

GamePlay Masters

Unique Viewers

0 M+

Views

0 M+

Watch Time (hours)

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Gender: Female / Male (%)

10.6  /  88.9

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ninja

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Age Demo

Creator Mediaa

Unlock exclusive, guaranteed access to top creators’ video inventory, precisely targeted by channel, game, and genre. Our approach ensures transparency and brand safety at scale across the YouTube creator economy, while extending your reach to audiences wherever they engage.


With a significant shift in viewership to Connected TV (CTV), gaming content has become big-screen entertainment, driving an +8% lift in co-viewership. Our cross-platform capabilities position your brand to thrive in this evolving landscape, connecting with viewers across YouTube, CTV, and beyond.

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:30s nonskip ctv​

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:15-:60s skippable

CASE STUDY: ALIENWARE

Drove clicks, views, and purchase intent

Brand Objectives

  • TK

What we did

  • Observed a 29% lift on gamers watching console games compared to those watching PC games, possibly looking to make the jump to PC gaming
  • Connected TV viewership grew 87% from 2021 to 2023, resulting in Co-viewership, now measured by YouTube and resulting in up to 12% extra impressions on campaigns
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Custom Content

Bent Pixels offers innovative custom content solutions, empowering brands to collaborate directly with top creators. Seamlessly integrate your brand or IP into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives lasting impact.

Bespoke / Dedicated Videos

Bent Pixels offers innovative custom content solutions, empowering brands to collaborate directly with top creators. Seamlessly integrate your brand or IP into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives lasting impact.

Custom Game Maps

Bent Pixels offers innovative custom content solutions, empowering brands to collaborate directly with top creators. Seamlessly integrate your brand or IP into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives lasting impact.

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VOD

Maximize discoverability and long-term impact with YouTube cutdown videos.

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Social

Amplify messaging on TikTok, X, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram through creator-driven content.

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Live

Collaborate with popular Fortnite creators for engaging live walkthroughs.

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Media

Use 15-second cutdowns on key channels to boost map visibility and awareness.

CASE STUDY: FORNITE

Built custom Fornite maps and amplified with creators

Brand Objectives

  • Connected with the next generation of audiences through custom game maps to deepen relationships with fans and create memorable experiences.
  • Focus on the game on FUN, rather than branded promotions
  • Drive awareness to gamers – Live stream, VOD, Social, Co-branded Media

CASE STUDY: FORNITE

A cross-platform, high-impact campaign

  • Built a complete, 360° campaign to reach target audience, cross-platform
  • Created high impact and high engagement in-game and across social/video content
  • Collaborated with popular Fortnite creators for LIVE walkthroughs
  • Amplified of messaging through TikTok, X, YT Shorts an IG across Fortnite creator social platforms
  • Created :15 cutdown to drive awareness to Fortnite Map across popular Fortnite Creator Channels on YT

Turnkey Solutions​​

Turnkey integration solutions offer a seamless way for brands to connect with audiences by embedding their messaging organically into YouTube creators’ content.

Authentic Messaging

Aligns with each creator’s unique style, ensuring ads feel natural and non-intrusive.

Audience Trust

Leverages creators’ established credibility within their communities.

Engaging Storytelling

Delivers your message through subtle, effective product placements.

Deeper Connections

Resonates with viewers as a genuine part of the creator’s narrative.

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Proven Results

Amplifies audience engagement and drives meaningful impact.

Custom bumpers

Cost-effective, 15-second, direct-to-camera endorsements from talent. Leverage their audience with an engaging message at the start of a video, highlighting key sales points and driving a strong call to action.

Custom bumpers

These are longer, more immersive brand placements seamlessly integrated into the content within the first half of a video. They span across various formats like video, audio, and social, providing a more comprehensive brand message that naturally fits into the overall content.

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Takeovers

YouTube Creator Channel Takeovers

Takeovers provide brands with 100% Share of Voice (SOV) across all video ad inventory—pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll. This guarantees full ownership of ad placements within a creator’s content, ensuring consistent and impactful messaging throughout the viewer experience.

With this strategy, brands tap into creators’ trusted voices and engaged communities, amplifying campaigns authentically. Ads are placed strategically:

Pre-rolls

grab attention at the start.

Mid-rolls

integrate naturally into longer videos.

Post-rolls

reinforce key messages.

Takeovers are perfect for product launches, campaigns, or storytelling tailored to niche audiences. This comprehensive ad strategy drives higher engagement, recall, and ROI, turning creator partnerships into powerful, results-driven opportunities.