Anyone who became a Twitch streamer partner had to hold back when live streaming on other platforms. Now, Twitch is loosening exclusivity – but not equally across all platforms.
This is new now: Twitch explains in an official FAQ that partners no longer have to offer their live streams exclusively on Twitch but can also live stream on other platforms.
This change is intended to allow partners to further grow their community independently of the platform. This change is to apply to a “majority of Twitch partners.” Streamers who have received a note regarding additional agreements are exempted – so there are at least some partners who remain exclusively tied to Twitch.
However, there is a catch: The new system allows for streams on other platforms, but not simultaneously with a Twitch stream. “As soon as you finish your live stream on Twitch, you can immediately continue streaming elsewhere,” it says.
“Simulcasting”, meaning simultaneous streaming on various platforms, remains largely prohibited. However, there are exceptions here as well.
Instagram and TikTok have different rules than Facebook and YouTube
Here are the differences: Twitch rules out that streams can happen simultaneously on “web-based, Twitch-like services” that support a longer period.
On YouTube and Facebook, streamers cannot be live simultaneously when they are also running on Twitch: “Because we believe that the simultaneous use of two streams can lead to a suboptimal experience for your community,” Twitch says about this (via Twitch / FAQ).
This means streams have to be finished before going live on one of the two platforms.
It looks different in short formats: “However, we know that many creators want to use other services to grow their communities,” Twitch says: “Therefore, simulcasting in short formats on mobile services like TikTok or Instagram Live is allowed.”
This is what the community says: In the subreddit “LivestreamFail,” the partial end of Twitch exclusivity is currently being discussed. Many see it as a step in the right direction, but the change also raises further questions.
- “The exclusivity clause has been weakened, but not completely lifted. I would prefer multistreams, as I then don’t have to keep track of streamers on multiple platforms,” says one user (via reddit).
- User alaminatti (via reddit) is meanwhile expecting that streamer xQc might now stream on TikTok any moment.
- “Interesting, I wonder if we will see more streamers testing the waters on YouTube, like 1 day a week or something,” predicts user “yotsuna” (via reddit).
- “The new generation of streamers will multistream on TikTok and IG and explode,” believes user “SaltyFlowerChild” (via reddit).
However, there are not only positive voices on the subject. The lack of the simulcast option on YouTube is criticized – noting that YouTube is probably the biggest competitor to Twitch in terms of streams.
Additionally, some are wondering how the adjustment of exclusivity will affect the money spent in streaming. In the past, large sums were occasionally spent by platforms like YouTube and Twitch to secure exclusive streaming rights for certain individuals.
For example, YouTube contracted streamer Valkyrae in 2020 with an exclusive contract from Twitch, who then quickly became the biggest streamer in the world.
However, there is no official information on this. So it remains to be seen how the change will affect the streaming landscape in the near future. We will keep you updated at MeinMMO!
