Telegram ad revenue: How creators earn from ads and why it’s changing news on Telegram

When you think of Telegram ad revenue, the system where Telegram pays channel owners for views on ads shown in their public channels. Also known as Telegram monetization, it’s not like Instagram or YouTube—there are no likes, no comments, no viral loops. You get paid when someone sees an ad in your channel, period. That simple model is pulling journalists, citizen reporters, and niche publishers into a new kind of news economy—one that rewards reach over truth.

This shift is tied directly to how Telegram channels, one-way broadcast platforms where admins push content to subscribers without interaction operate. Unlike social media, Telegram doesn’t rank posts by engagement. So if you have 50,000 subscribers, your post reaches 50,000 people—no algorithm hiding it. That’s why big channels with high subscriber counts are now the main targets for Telegram’s ad program. And because the payout is based on views, not quality, some creators are pushing clickbait headlines, exaggerated claims, and emotionally charged content just to boost numbers. It’s not about being informative anymore—it’s about being seen.

The money flows through Telegram Stars, a digital currency system used for tipping and payments within the app, but ads are handled separately. Creators don’t need to find advertisers—they just join the program, and Telegram serves ads automatically. The platform takes a cut, but the rest goes straight to the channel owner. In countries where traditional media is weak or censored, this has become a lifeline. A news channel in Ukraine or Nigeria can now pay its writer because of ad revenue, not donations. But it’s also created a race to the bottom. Fake news channels with thousands of bots and misleading headlines are earning more than verified journalists because they get more views. And since Telegram doesn’t fact-check or label misinformation, there’s no penalty for spreading lies—only reward for attention.

What does this mean for you? If you run a news channel, you’re facing a choice: stick to accuracy and risk lower earnings, or lean into sensationalism and grow faster. If you’re a reader, you’re seeing more flashy headlines, more fear-driven stories, and fewer deep reports. The ad revenue system isn’t broken—it’s working exactly as designed. But it’s changing what news looks like on Telegram. The posts below dig into how this model affects channel growth, what tools creators use to track earnings, how law enforcement is reacting, and why some journalists are walking away from the platform entirely. You’ll find real examples, earnings data, and strategies for staying safe—or profitable—in this new landscape.

Digital Media

Paid Telegram News vs Ad-Supported Feeds: Which Monetization Model Wins in 2025?

In 2025, Telegram news channels earn more with hybrid monetization: ads for growth, paid subscriptions for profit. Learn what works, what fails, and how top creators are making six figures without websites.

Read