Twitch streamers have loudly complained that they'd like to get paid more reliably. The Amazon-owned streaming service's solution: the Ads Incentive Program, which gives users an ensured payout from ads to help them have a "predictable monthly income."
To qualify, users have to be Affiliate or Partner-level streamers, Amazon-owned Twitch said in a blog post announcing the program on Wednesday. Twitch will send out an "an incentive offer" to certain users detailing the monthly rates they qualify for. They must then stream the minimum number of hours requested in the offer.
"Reliable and predictable income is important for streamers, and managing ads can be a pain that takes time away from creating content," the company said in the post. "No more guesswork when it comes to your monthly ad payouts. No more fiddling with ad timing."
Possible incentives include $100 for 2 minutes of ads per hour, $300 for 3 minutes of ads per hour, and $500 for 4 minutes of ads per hour for streaming 40 hours minimum a month, according to an example image in the post explaining how the program works. Users will also earn their normal ad payout rate for any additional hours broadcast after finishing the streaming hours required by the offer.
Twitch's default advertising offer for creators is a variable revenue split based on the number of views. Prior to this program, streamers made money from ads based on their audience, with revenue increasing along with viewership. The new program appears to offer an incentive for consistent streaming, even if audience levels vary.
The move is the latest by a social media company to help creators get paid. Facebook recently announced the global expansion of Reels, its TikTok rival, which added the ability to tack banner and sticker ads onto videos to monetize. YouTube also launched new tools to help creators make money through its short-form content, including brand partnerships, shopping and gifted memberships.
Climate TRACE's data show emissions at the facility-level.Image: Climate TRACE