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Twitch, a popular streaming platform, recently introduced its new Partner Plus program. While the promise of a 70/30 revenue split enticed many, the stringent requirements have drawn criticism, with Twitch streamer PaladinAmber leading the charge.
The Partner Plus Program: A Glimmer of Hope?
Twitch revealed its new Partner Plus program earlier this week. The program offered the sought-after 70/30 revenue split, creating a wave of excitement among streamers.
However, upon closer inspection, the requirements seemed less inviting. To qualify, partners must maintain a sub count of at least 350 recurring paid subscriptions for three consecutive months.
Once qualified, they are enrolled for the next 12 months, even if the subscription count falls below the threshold during the year. The 70/30 split applies only until streamers reach $100k in revenue.
PaladinAmber Takes a Stand Against Twitch’s New Program
PaladinAmber, a Twitch streamer, was among those who voiced their frustration about the Partner Plus program’s requirements.
In response to Twitch’s announcement, she tweeted, “This was the secret deal that they offered other streamers. If you hit this quota for three months, you got the deal indefinitely.
Now they’ve added a cap for the time period of 12 months. Meaning every year you have to hit this.”
She continued her critique, pointing out the economic challenges facing many streamers and their audience.
“Unless you’re sitting at around 1k viewers or more, this is so unobtainable right now based off individual and reoccurring subs, not gifted and not prime,” she added.
PaladinAmber further argued that no platform deserves 50% of the income a creator makes.
She criticized Twitch for claiming to provide a stage while effectively giving creators an empty room they must populate themselves.
Despite potential repercussions, she vowed to continue speaking out against the program and expressed willingness to stream on rival platforms like Kick and YouTube.
Twitch Responds to the Outcry
Merry Kish, a Director of Community Marketing & Production at Twitch, responded to PaladinAmber’s tweet chain.
She stated that streamers wouldn’t face bans for discussing revenue share and their expectations from such deals.
She acknowledged the limitations of the Partner Plus program, saying, “I think the hope is that it creates transparency around a deal that was behind closed doors for so long, but I agree it’s a select few that can benefit from it.”
To which, PaladinAmber responded by expressing empathy for Twitch employees. She reiterated that her criticisms were directed at the program and its potential impact on a majority of streamers.
In her final comment, Kish emphasized the symbiotic relationship between Twitch and its streamers, saying, “We’re all working a job to survive.
How you, a streamer who makes a living off of content creation, continue to grow and be successful is my success metric. Because if you can’t do it, I’m out of a job too.”
The introduction of Twitch’s Partner Plus program has opened up a contentious dialogue about platform responsibility and the reality of economic challenges faced by streamers.
It remains to be seen how Twitch will navigate this complex situation, balancing its business model with the needs of its creator community.
