Amazon-owned streaming platform Twitch will no longer enforce the exclusivity clause of its Partner Program, according to an email sent to Twitch Partners on Tuesday. This change also applies to Twitch Affiliates, according to the Partner Exclusivity FAQ web page.
“We still believe that Twitch is the best place for creators to build and engage with their community,” the email said. “We also recognize that the digital landscape has changed since we first introduced the Partner Program and that many of you engage with your communities in many different places. So, we are updating our policy.”
Twitch just sent this email to all Twitch Partners removing the exclusivity clause that forced them to stream only on Twitch. Big W. pic.twitter.com/dIh991y0ew
— Omni ☕️ (@InfernoOmni) August 23, 2022
Previously, the exclusivity clause prohibited Partners from livestreaming on any platform other than Twitch. However, Partners and Affiliates now “have more flexibility to explore how to use different, off-platform features to further build [their communities] and interact with streamers off Twitch.”
Twitch will not actually update the terms of the Partner Program agreement until next year. Nevertheless, it will not enforce the exclusivity clause in the meantime, allowing streamers to produce live content for other platforms.
The end of the Twitch Partners exclusivity clause
Even with the exclusivity clause ending, there are still some restrictions on simulcasting for Twitch Partners and Affiliates. They can not simultaneously stream for extended periods of time on both Twitch and a similar platform, like YouTube or Facebook. The email to Partners said this could create a “sub-optimal experience” for community members as streamers attempted to split their attention between two sets of viewers.
Still, streamers are allowed to simulcast on both Twitch and a short-form mobile service, like Instagram or TikTok. Partners and Affiliates are also free to stream on platforms like YouTube and Facebook, so long as they aren’t streaming to Twitch at the same time.
According to the Partner Exclusivity FAQ, streamers are allowed to immediately transition off of a Twitch stream and onto a stream on a different platform. Streamers are also allowed to promote their other channels in their Twitch panels, and are encouraged to advertise their Twitch streams on other platforms as well.
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