Twitch, the most famous online streaming platform, is once again at the heart of the debate. It was a Bloomberg article published yesterday that put the company in the center of attention. Indeed, it may well be that big changes are coming to the Twitch Partner program , and not the most positive for streamers and their viewers.
More advertising?
According to the Bloomberg article, Twitch would like to increase the number of advertising broadcasts on viewers' screens. Recently, the company launched the AIP (Ads Incentive Program) on its platform, allowing certain streamers to earn a fixed income thanks to various advertising programs, which are then broadcast on their channel.
It therefore seems that the platform does not intend to stop there, by encouraging the biggest streamers to integrate more ads on their channel in exchange for better earnings. A financial opportunity for the talents of course, but a plague for their viewers who may miss certain key parts of the stream because of these often endless advertisements...
Less revenue for big streamers?
It's a decision that could change the relationship between Twitch and its streamers. Also according to internal (but anonymous) sources at Bloomberg's Twitch, the streaming platform would like to lower the profit percentage of streamers based on their earnings. For example, the more money a streamer earns through subs or donations, the higher Twitch's profit share will increase.
At present, and only for the beneficiaries of the partnership with the streaming platform, the latter recovers "only" 30% of the total profits of its streamers, leaving the rest to its latter (i.e. 70% ). If these rumors turn out to be true, these shares could increase to 50% for the biggest streamers – those who are entitled to Twitch Partner and 70/30. We are therefore talking here about a 50-50 between Twitch and its partner talents .
In return, Twitch would give more freedom to its streamers by lifting the exclusivity between them and the platform, thus authorizing them to broadcast on YouTube for example.
The rumor made the whole web react, and in particular the main concerned: the streamers themselves. They fear that the company will take action. If so, this would represent a 30% loss of profits for them, which is more than significant, especially since streaming is becoming your livelihood.