Twitch’s revenue split is officially 50/50 no more – at least for a select few.
Several years since this model has been in place, Twitch has finally introduced a new program to make it easier for all of its streamers who dream of making it big on the platform to achieve their goals.
Unfortunately, the new Partner Plus program by Twitch isn’t as straightforward as it seems.
To start, Twitch is introducing the Partner Plus program to empower streamers by increasing their share of the subscription revenues from the usual 50 percent to an impressive 70 percent, for the first $100,000 earned annually. Twitch would take the remaining 30 percent. This revamp offers more streamers access to the premium subscription terms previously only negotiated with some of the platform’s biggest streamers, who are starting to leave the platform.
However, like every good deal, there are a few caveats to note. To be eligible for this program, Twitch requires streamers to maintain a minimum count of 350 recurring paid subscriptions over three consecutive months. Only once this threshold is met, does the streamer automatically enroll in the Partner Plus tier for the next 12 months, irrespective of whether their subscriber count dips below the requirement during this period.
Notably, not all subscriptions are equal. The free subscriptions given to Amazon Prime members and gifted subscriptions aren’t counted towards qualifying for this tier or the $100,000 revenue split limit. Not to mention, once a streamer earns over a hundred thousand in subscription revenues, their split drops back to the standard 50/50.
The introduction of the Partner Plus program appears to be Twitch’s response program seems to be Twitch’s response to increasing competition in the streaming market. With competitors like Meta, YouTube Gaming, and Kick offering more attractive subscription revenue shares, Twitch had to make a power move. Still, the new initiative, set to launch on October 1st, has left the streaming community with mixed feelings.
On one hand, it’s seen as a positive step, allowing more streamers to earn more from their subscriptions. However, on the other hand, some see it as a drop in the ocean, with the top streamers reaching the $100,000 cap quickly, and those with less than 350 paid subscriptions left to continue under the original 50/50 split.
In terms of numbers, a mere 2.5% of Twitch partners, or 1,066 out of 42,000, currently meet the threshold to qualify for the Partner Plus program. This statistic highlights that the program while offering a lucrative incentive to the platform’s top earners, remains inaccessible to the vast majority of streamers.
While it’s a step in the right direction, it doesn’t fully address the underlying discontent within the streaming community, which believes the platform extracts too much from creators.
Whether it manages to strike a balance between empowering streamers and maintaining its business profitability, or if it simply appeases the few at the top, only time will tell.
