The Sidemen: We’ve hit YouTube limit so are moving to Netflix

The Sidemen, one of the most influential YouTube groups, have announced they’re stepping up their game by moving their reality series Inside to Netflix, after feeling they’ve “hit the limit” of what they can achieve on YouTube. The group, known for their diverse content ranging from gaming to comedy, will launch the second season of Inside on the streaming platform next year, alongside a U.S. version.

The Sidemen, a seven-member collective that includes the well-known YouTuber, rapper, and boxer KSI, have amassed over 146 million subscribers across their channels. Despite their massive success on YouTube, they’ve expressed excitement about venturing into the world of traditional streaming services. Vikk Barn (aka Vikkstar123), one of the Sidemen, told the BBC that their decision was driven by the desire to “conquer a new challenge.”

“Netflix is the gold standard,” Vikk said. “Working with them is a huge achievement for us. We’ve gone from filming content in our bedrooms to working with the biggest streaming platform in the world, and that’s something we’re really proud of.”

The Sidemen’s journey began in the early 2010s, when they first started creating gaming content on YouTube. Over the years, they’ve evolved, branching out into a wide range of content including travel challenges, comedy sketches, podcasts, and even a dating show. The group now employs a production team of over 100 people to help create and manage their videos.

One of the group’s most successful ideas has been the reality series Inside, which launched on YouTube in June. The show quickly became a hit, racking up 14 million views for its first episode. The concept is simple but engaging: ten influencers are locked in a house for a week and must compete for a large cash prize. Its massive success caught the attention of Netflix executives, leading to the commissioning of a second UK season, along with a U.S. version.

Vikk emphasized that while YouTube has been an essential platform for their rise, working with Netflix presents an exciting opportunity to reach new audiences. “We’ve hit a ceiling with YouTube,” he explained. “We bring in around 20 million UK viewers a month, but now we’re thinking about how we can reach different people.”

The Sidemen are no strangers to pushing boundaries. The group, which also includes Miniminter, Zerkaa, TBJZL, Behzinga, and W2S, has always been innovative in their content creation. However, transitioning from YouTube to Netflix has come with its own set of challenges, especially since the Sidemen are used to working quickly and maintaining control over their content.

“We move at a really fast pace. Sometimes we shoot on Wednesday and upload a two-hour video by Sunday,” Vikk explained. “We had to make sure that Netflix was okay with us maintaining that rapid production pace.”

Despite some reservations about the transition, the group unanimously agreed to take the plunge. As executive producers on the show, the Sidemen will have full creative control over the new season of Inside, ensuring that it stays true to their original vision while also expanding it for a global audience.

The move to Netflix follows a broader trend in which digital creators are shifting from platforms like YouTube to traditional streaming services for larger-scale projects. MrBeast, the world’s biggest YouTuber, will also launch a high-profile game show on Amazon Prime Video in December, signaling a new direction for online stars.

While the Sidemen have built their careers by making entertaining and lighthearted content, Vikk emphasized that they don’t see themselves as role models. “We’re just ourselves, making fun videos. We don’t try to be anything we’re not,” he said. “We don’t focus on politics or social issues—we’d rather leave that to the experts.”

Despite their success, the Sidemen have faced significant online scrutiny, with recent controversies surrounding KSI’s promotional post about Donald Trump and the group’s perceived political affiliations. Vikk responded to this by saying, “Everything we do will upset someone. You just have to move forward and focus on the positive impact we’re having.”

Reflecting on their long journey, Vikk recalled how his passion for creating content was initially met with resistance. “At school, people thought I was weird for recording myself playing video games,” he said. “And my parents weren’t happy with how much time I spent on YouTube, but as long as my grades were good, they let me continue.”

As the Sidemen approach their tenth year of working together, there have been rumors about a potential breakup. However, Vikk put those rumors to rest, saying, “Everything is fantastic right now. We don’t know what the future holds, but there’s absolutely no end in sight.”

With the move to Netflix and the promise of bigger and better projects, the Sidemen are poised to solidify their place as major players in the entertainment industry, bridging the gap between digital content and traditional media. Their transition from YouTube to Netflix marks a bold new chapter in their already successful careers.