Marcel ‘MontanaBlack88’ Eris, the most-followed German streamer on Twitch, says he has no other option other than to leave the country following new broadcasting laws and increased taxes.
At one time the most-subscribed to streamer on Twitch, MontanaBlack is a massively popular content creator, with over 3.7 million followers on the platform.
He is the most popular German streamer comfortably, and the 6th most-followed non-English speaking broadcaster on Twitch.
However, his popularity is part of the problem, as new German regulations on broadcasters mean he is now facing strict rules, applied to any ‘broadcaster’ who averages more than 20,000 viewers.
As reported by German website Heise, the “State Media Treaty contains new regulations for live streamers,” with anyone who averages more than 20,000 viewers requiring a broadcasting license.
These rules are affecting other popular streamers including Gronkh, Drachenlord and PietSmiet. Unge, a streamer with over 1 million Twitch followers, has already left Germany, and is now living in Portugal.
On his Twitch stream, MontanaBlack also expressed anger about high taxes, saying the German government were “taking everything away.” He says that he feels like he has “no other option.”
He explained that while he feels forced into leaving the country due to the regulations, it is not an easy decision, as he has also just renovated his home. He was also speaking to fellow German streamer, Trymacs, who faces a similar dilemma.