LOS ANGELES—Manuel Ferrara told AVN he has teamed with RubyVR on a unique sponsorship deal that is integrated with his growing community on Twitch.tv.
Twitch is the world's leading video platform for gamers with more than 45 million enthusiasts gathering online every month to broadcast, watch and chat.
RubyVR this month has launched a banner ad on Ferrara’s Twitch broadcasts at his channel, ManuelFerraraTV. The agreement also calls for RubyVR viewers to be shown during Ferrara’s gaming episodes; and in addition, celebrity guests appearing on his broadcasts will be given RubyVR headsets.
The deal was brokered by Ferrara’s partner, Kayden Kross, who’ll be featured in upcoming RubyVR ads as an official spokesmodel.
“Most of Manuel’s Twitch followers are fans of his work in porn, so we are effectively connecting with thousands of porn customers through a mainstream site,” said Michael Donohue, executive vice president of global sales for RubyVR. “As RubyVR is the only VR head-set manufacturer dedicated to the adult industry, we are excited to partner with Kayden Kross and Manuel Ferrara to promote the adoption of VR and enable customers to access VR content with affordable, high-quality viewers.”
Ferrara, the only man in porn history to win the AVN Male Performer of the Year award five times, has been an early sensation on Twitch. Thanks to his notoriety in the porn business and easy-going accessibility during his broadcasts, the charming native of Gagny, France, has amassed tens of thousands of followers and more than 566,000 views since his Twitch debut.
The 18-year porn veteran, who is a former physical education student with more than 1700 adult movie credits, said he’s been a gamer his entire life.
“I think it’s awesome,” Ferrara said. “I kind of randomly started on Twitch. I’ve always been a gamer and a friend of mine who also is a gamer told me, ‘You know, with what you do and your fanbase you should try Twitch and see how it goes. I’m sure it would take.’
“In two months surprisingly enough I got 30,000 followers and it keeps growing and growing.”
Ferrara has also started a companion YouTube channel titled ManuelFerraraTV with footage from his gaming sessions; two weeks ago he visited Paris Games Week and posted a video of his experience walking the show floor meeting some of the most accomplished gamers in the world.
As his momentum continues to build, he revealed plans are in motion to launch a ManuelFerraraTV website that will stream his game sessions. That site will also have banners promoting RubyVR.
“It’s funny because in a way the video game industry is looked at a little bit in the same way like the porn industry as something useless and not mainstream enough to get big,” Ferrara said. “Now it’s basically a huge explosion of the video game industry and live streams.
“It’s phenomenal to arrive here with my background in the industry that I’ve loved since I was a kid and to have a sponsor behind me. I’ve got other sponsors lined up, too.”
Ferrara performs, directs and has a family to take care of, but he makes time to get on Twitch at least once a day.
“I do a stream in the morning around 11 a.m. [PST], usually. There is a huge French community for 11 a.m because it’s 8 p.m. in France. Here I can make the most viewers,” explained Ferrara, who often speaks French during his broadcasts. “And then I’ve started to stream in the evening, too.”
His go-to video games include “Overwatch,” “Counter-Strike,” “Gears of War 4,” “FIFA 17” and “League of Legends,” which Ferrara said “is like the most popular game in the world.”
“Which I didn’t know before. I didn’t know before I started streaming anything about ‘League of Legends’ and now I’m just addicted,” he admitted. “I’m far from being close to average. I’m really bad, but I love it. It’s a good thing I get a lot of support from a lot of big players. The four-time world champion comes to stream with me and coach me.
“I’m about to start playing ‘Call of Duty.’ I always like bringing new video games.”
Ferrara also regularly invites porn stars to play with him; some of his previous guests include Abella Danger, Angela White, Brandi Love, Kimber Woods and Veronica Avluv.
“The list keeps on going,” he said. “My goal is to be able to have one guest a week.”
Ferrara said there is some “shock value” to inviting girls to play that are not regular gamers. He’ll often turn on fight games such as “Mortal Kombat” when they join him.
“Watching their reactions is very funny,” he said.
His Twitch channel is solidifying an already robust fanbase, giving him an outlet to show another side of his personality that often doesn’t come through during the intense porn performances that have made him one of the most decorated studs in adult film history.
“Some people tell me ‘we had no idea you were that type of guy. When we watch you in porn you’re different, but you’re so accessible when we talk to you on the stream,’” Ferrara said.
Demonstrating his skills on Twitch has also been a humbling experience, Ferrara added.
“I’ve always played video games since I was a young boy. Back then the consoles were not as advanced. I used to play in arcades a lot. Once I started the streaming I realized I wasn’t as good as I like to think I am. Like in everything there is always a better guy than you. Now I’m starting to wonder if there is anyone worse,” he joked. “These are trained motherfuckers, where video games are their life. It’s fun though.
“When I went to Paris Games Week people stopped me as much as they do at the porn conventions. I had groups of people stopping me. Man it’s awesome. I met so many really interesting people.”
