What is Twitch streaming? Everything you need to know about livestreaming and becoming a streamer
Unsplash: Akin Cakiner / TwitchTwitch is one of the world’s most popular streaming platforms. But, what exactly does streaming on Twitch mean? How can you start your own streaming journey and become a Twitch Affiliate? Here’s everything you need to know.
It’s hard to imagine the internet without Twitch now. Having unexpectedly thrived following its conception, the platform has gone on to build its very own culture spawning a whole new career form and inspiring a new way to create content.
The platform now boasts an average 2.67 million viewers and 95.5k concurrent channels, as of writing. This includes some of the most popular names in the streaming community, such as xQc, Ibai, and Amouranth.
But, where did it all begin? What is Twitch streaming and how can you become a Twitch affiliate?
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YouTube: NinjaWhat is Twitch? A brief history
Founded in 2011, Twitch’s humble beginnings started as a sub-category for live video broadcasting website Justin.tv.
Originally, Twitch was set up for users to create content specifically centered around video games. However, by October 2013, Twitch had eclipsed its general counterpart pulling in 45 million viewers which eventually led to Twitch and Justin.tv’s parent company being rebranded as Twitch Interactive in 2014.
After the official closure of Justin.tv, things only continued to skyrocket for Twitch when the platform was purchased by Amazon for a whopping $970 million in August that year.
Eight years, thousands of creators, and countless livestreams later, Twitch still leads the field as the leading western live video game streaming platforms, as reported in 2021. As a result, beating out heavy competition from its competitors YouTube Gaming and Facebook.
Content creators who are hoping to make some money through Twitch directly can get the ball rolling by becoming a Twitch Affiliate.How to become a Twitch Affiliate
Up-and-coming streamers on Twitch can earn a handsome living earning money through ads, subs, and donations. However, if you’re looking to earn money directly from Twitch, you can become a Twitch Affiliate. But, you’ll need to meet some requirements first.
The requirements to become a Twitch Affiliate are:
- 50 followers minimum.
- At least 500 total minutes broadcast in the last 30 days.
- An average of 3 concurrent viewers or more over the last 30 days.
- A minimum of 7 unique broadcast days in the last 30 days.
Once you meet all four of these qualifications, Twitch will invite you to become an Affiliate and earn revenue through the platform. For starters, you can monetizing your channel with Bits–a form of virtual currency where creators can earn a “tip” for viewers who Cheer them in their chat.
Of course, you can still receive money from viewers using Twitch’s three-tier options beginning with Tier One at $4.99, Tier Two at $9.99, and Tier Three at $24.99. However, Twitch Affiliates will be expected to split any ad revenue with Twitch.
Getting set up on Twitch can seem like a daunting task. However, our useful tips and guides all about the steaming platform can help you along the way.
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