Some thoughts on the Twitch Affiliate program, subs, etc
I think the the bar is really too low to become an Affiliate. 3 concurrent viewers, 500 minutes streamed over 30 days and 50 followers. That’s 16.67 min per day in a 30 day month. So if you stream even twice a week for a couple hours each time, you’re good.
I think the follower count should be higher. Like 250–500 range. Shows you can grow your channel. I think minimum concurrent viewers could be a smidge higher as well, say 15–20. I’m saying this for reasons
Affiliate status seems to be getting pushed as a step towards partnership. However, is there an incentive to go for it with subs available to Affiliates now? Especially if a streamer never goes beyond the minimum requirements and now they can monetize their stream, why improve? Also, I think it might give false hope to people who meet the bare minimum now but will likely never get to partner status. I hope I’m wrong on that but it is a concern.
I think in a way it cheapens the partner program since there’s little difference (that I can see) between partner & affiliate status. Partners have better revenue sharing, a verified badge & other perks I’m sure. But there’s a thin line separating them now. As for revenue splits, for Affiliate’s it’s 50/50, Partners get 60/40? (If I’m wrong someone correct me). There’s other differences but as you see it’s not much, and/or it’s mostly cosmetic aside from waiting on payout and support for your channel.
I feel a way about the whole partner thing in general but that’s more about the have/have not divide that exists in stream culture.
We all need to remember Twitch is a business and this may kill other options non-partnered streamers had to monetize like GameWisp or other options. I actually don’t know of other monetization options besides gratuities, GW or Patreon.
All that said, I think it is a fantastic way for folks to monetize especially if streaming is one of their ways of making money. I just wish it had been implemented better. Or that the initial qualification wasn’t set so low. What I hope happens is people will work to improve their streams as subs come in & those that want it, go for partner.
