Signal 2: Viewer Retention Past 30 Seconds. The hook signal — does the stream hold a new viewer past the first 30 seconds?

How it's measured: percentage of viewers who arrive at your stream and stay past the 30-second mark. Calculated continuously across the broadcast.

Healthy thresholds:

• Above 50% retention past 30 seconds = strong hook
• 30-50% = average, room for improvement
• Under 30% = weak hook, algorithm downranks

What kills 30-second retention:

• Loading screens or technical setup at stream start
• Low-energy opening ("hi guys, let me know how you're doing...")
• Long pauses while you read chat or check Discord
• Background music with no on-screen action
• Generic "starting soon" screens that linger

What lifts 30-second retention:

• Hook that names what's about to happen ("Tonight we're attempting the speedrun under 4 hours")
• Visual energy in the first frame
• Audio energy (music + voice + game sound layered)
• Move directly into the highest-energy segment after the hook

Practice the open. Script the first 60 seconds. The signal is engineered, not lucky.