Twitch is introducing a new “Partner Plus” program that will give streamers an increase 70 percent of the share of their subscription revenues – up to the first $100,000 brought each year – with Twitch taking the other 30 percent, The Verge reported.
According to The Verge, most partnered streamers receive 50 percent of their subscription revenues, though Twitch had negotiated 70/30 deals with some of the platform’s biggest streamers until last fall when it announced that those deals would eventually get this same $100,000 cut-off. The new program doesn’t seem to change those “premium subscription terms,” but it could give many more streamers access to the higher split.
The Verge also reported that on Twitch, streamers have access to a much larger pool of viewers and subscribers had pushed for the service to introduce a 70/30 split for all, especially considering the competition. Meta is taking no subscription cut through the rest of 2023 across Facebook and Instagram, including Facebook Gaming, while YouTube Gaming offers a 70/30 split on “fan funding” like memberships and superheats. Kick, a newer competitor that launched in January advertises a 95/5 split on subscription services.
Twitch streamers will need to keep a sub count of at least 350 “recurring paid subscriptions for three consecutive months” to qualify for the program, the company’s chief monetization officer Mike Minton and chief content officer Laura Lee said in Twitch’s blog post.
TechCrunch reported that Twitch is launching something called the Partner Plus program. Streamers who qualify for Partner Plus will get 70% of the revenue they generate from monthly subscriptions and gift subscriptions. But the program does have some caveats. For one, only the first $100,000 earned annually is eligible for the 70/30 breakdown.
Beyond that, the Partner Plus program also requires that streamers maintain a minimum of 350 paid subscribers for three consecutive months to be eligible – a requirement that will freeze out a wide swath of streamers just getting started. Once a streamer qualifies for Partner Plus, they’ll be enrolled for 12 months (and not kicked out if they go below the 350 sub threshold).
Engadget reported that Partner Plus launches October 1st, and will automatically include anyone who meets the requirements for the three prior months. The program will be available worldwide, and doesn’t offer anything beyond what Premium Partners (major creators who’ve negotiated special deals) receive.
According to Engadget, this effort comes months after Twitch announced plans for an identical cap for Premium Partners. Twitch president at the time (now CEO) Dan Clancy claimed in September this wouldn’t affect 90 percent of relevant streamers, and that increased ad payouts would help to make up the difference.
However, Engadget noted, that might still irk major streamers who depend on Twitch for a living – they’re effectively taking a pay cut. There’s a risk this may prompt other streamers to jump to YouTube and other platforms if they receive more lucrative terms.
In my opinion, it appears that Twitch might be offering the Partner Plus tier in an effort to entice new streamers to join Twitch and stay on their platform. Based on what has been reported, it appears that Kick, which offers streamers a 95/5 split, is probably the best choice for new streamers.