It is imperative to understand that not all streamers earn the same on Twitch. Partially, that is mostly because Twitch favors its Affiliates and Partners. The Twitch Affiliate program allows streamers to monetize their channel while growing their audience.
The Twitch Partners program on the other hand is reserved for only the top streamers who have already made it to their Affiliate program. So, in this article, we are going to discuss everything there is to know about how to become a Twitch affiliate.
Also Read: How to Make Money on Twitch
Choosing Between Twitch Affiliate and Partner
This goes without saying, in order to monetize your channel, you have to either become a Twitch Affiliate or Partner. While Twitch Partners are reserved for the most elite streamers, you can easily become a Twitch Affiliate.
Not to mention, the Twitch Partnership program is completely invite-only. Although, Twitch has laid out a complete path on how to achieve that status. Similarly, you can also join the Twitch Creator Camp to learn more about streaming from their online portal.
The Creator Camp covers all the basics of streaming including branding and analytics, how to monetize your channel, and build a long-term sustainable audience base. In fact, Creator Camp also hosts live sessions with Twitch Partners so that you can get a better insight.
Prerequisites to Join the Twitch Affiliate Program
Once you have gathered all the basics of streaming on Twitch, now might be the best time to join the Twitch Affiliate Program. But at the same time, there are some distinct criteria that you need to check before becoming eligible for Twitch Affiliate. These perquisites include:
- A total of 500 minutes were broadcast in the past 30 days
- Minimum of 7 days broadcast in the past 30 days
- An average of 3 concurrent viewers in the past 30 days
- At least 50 followers altogether
You might feel like these requirements aren’t that hard to achieve and that is exactly what Twitch wants to ensure. They ensure you are serious about streaming on Twitch while following through with a reasonable schedule.
Twitch also allows you to check your progress toward meeting those requirements. Simply go to your Creator Dashboard > Insights > Achievements. This allows you to keep track of your achievements, and once your channel qualifies, you can easily join the program.
After your channel meetings the criteria, Twitch itself will send you an invitation via email. You can also find the same in the Notification Area of your Twitch account.
Note: In order to be a Twitch Affiliate, you must be above 13 years old. For people under 18, their parents or guardians can also agree to Twitch’s terms of agreement on their behalf.
Also Read: How to Donate on Twitch
Advantages of Becoming a Twitch Affiliate
Apart from the status quo that comes with becoming a Twitch Affiliate or Partner, you can also reap the benefits of monetizing your channel. Some of the most common ways to make money as an Affiliate include Twitch Bits, Advertisements, and Subscriptions.
In fact, according to a poll from Stream Schedule, the majority of the streamers receive their Bits and Subscriptions from only 5-15% of their total viewers. The typical first payment for any Twitch Affiliate ranges from 100 USD to 1000 USD until they are invited to become a Partner.
So, up until you are made a Partner, here are some of the most prominent ways in which you can make money as an Affiliate:
1. Twitch Bits
Twitch allows users to cheer their favorite streamers on their channel. This is only available to the streamers who are already made an Affiliate or Partner. Users can support using Bits, a form of virtual currency on the platform.
In order to cheer the streamer, viewers can use the special animated emote known as Cheermotes. That being said, users need to first buy the Bits from Twitch, and that is exactly where the monetary gain comes into play.
Each Cheermote comes with a different price tag. Generally, the flashier it gets, the more expensive they are. For instance, a viewer can simply type “cheer100” to donate 100 Bits to the streamer.
For all the Affiliates, Twitch only allows standard sets of Cheermotes. Partners on the other hand have the ability to create custom Cheermotes as well. That being said, Twitch actually rewards their streamers every single time someone cheers them.
Twitch offers a typical payout of 1 cent per Bit. While it might not seem like a significant source of revenue, streamers can easily build up Bits over time. This is exactly where more viewers really come into play.
2. Subscriptions
Subscriptions are yet another lucrative steady income stream that you can expect every single month. Twitch allows streamers to set up three different subscription tiers, catered towards a different loyal supporter.
Streamers can also set up different Subscription Emotes based on the various tiers. Simply go to Viewer Rewards > Emotes > Subscriber Emotes. As an Affiliate or Partner, you can also upload custom emotes to be used as Subscription Emotes.
There is also the scheme of sub-points given to the streamers based on their subscribers. For Tier 1 subscribers you get 1 sub-point, with Tier 2 Subscribers giving you 2 points, followed by 6 points for Tier 3 Subscribers.
3. Advertisement Revenue
Last but not least, being a Twitch Affiliate or Partner gives you the advantage of shared revenue which is generated from video ads during the stream. There is a 50/50 split between Twitch and the Affiliate for the revenue. Although, Partners have the ability to negotiate for a higher share.
Are there any Shortcomings of Becoming a Twitch Affiliate?
This goes without saying that becoming a Twitch Affiliate certainly comes with its own sets of perks. But at the same time, the Affiliate Agreement comes with an exclusivity clause. In other words, you won’t be able to stream on other competing platforms such as YouTube or Facebook simultaneously.
Although Twitch allows you to post your previous streams once they have passed the mark of 24 hours. But initially, cross-platform streaming can really give you the visibility you need to make a prominent name for yourself.
Twitch in their own Affiliate Agreement states – “After the Exclusivity Period of any Live Twitch Content, the license to such Live Twitch Content will become non-exclusive, and you will have the right to broadcast, stream, distribute, exhibit and otherwise make available such Live Twitch Content in any manner and format desired by you.”
Also Read: How to Raid on Twitch
The Bottom Line
So there you have it, everything you need to know before you make up your mind to become a Twitch Affiliate. The road ahead is certainly full of hard work and persistence. That being said, if you are able to deliver results consistently while keeping your audience entertained, you can always build a successful career out of Twitch.
