Twitch, the popular livestreaming platform, is introducing a new initiative called Partner Plus that aims to provide livestreamers with a stronger incentive to grow their audiences. The program, set to launch on October 1st, will offer more successful creators a 70 percent share of their net subscription revenue, significantly higher than the usual 50 percent. However, there is a threshold of up to $100,000 in net subscription revenue for the calendar year.
To qualify for the Partner Plus program, creators must maintain a minimum of 350 recurring paid subscriptions (excluding gifts and Prime subscriptions) for a three-month period. Once they meet this requirement, they will be eligible for the 70 percent revenue share for the next 12 months, regardless of whether they maintain the 350-subscription threshold. This benefit can continue indefinitely as long as the creator remains eligible.
Unlike the Premium Partners program, which offers special deals to major creators through individual negotiations, the Partner Plus program will automatically include anyone who meets the requirements for the three prior months. The initiative will be available globally and will not provide any additional benefits beyond what Premium Partners already receive.
Twitch’s decision to introduce Partner Plus follows its announcement earlier this year of plans to implement a similar revenue cap for Premium Partners. In September, then-Twitch President (now CEO) Dan Clancy assured that this change would only affect a small percentage of streamers and that increased ad payouts would help compensate for the difference. However, some prominent streamers who rely on Twitch as their primary source of income may view this as a pay cut, potentially prompting them to explore alternative platforms like YouTube, which may offer more lucrative terms.
Nevertheless, Twitch appears to be focused on expanding the practical income opportunities for a larger number of streamers, particularly those in the early stages of their livestreaming careers. By doing so, the platform hopes to encourage more creators to remain on Twitch, increasing the overall number of available channels and retaining viewers who might otherwise be tempted to explore rival platforms.
Twitch has faced several challenges in recent months, including backlash over the revenue split for Premium Partners and the impact of parent company Amazon’s significant layoffs. While the Partner Plus program may not guarantee a resolution to these issues, it demonstrates Twitch’s willingness to adapt its strategy in response to the concerns raised by streamers and the evolving livestreaming landscape.
