Kick is said to be a streaming platform that will financially benefit creators. With the full version of Kick.com now available to users, many are asking if the network will eventually become a competitor to Twitch.
For a long time, the Amazon-owned streaming service has remained at the top of the list, outperforming various competitors. But the new live-streaming platform appears to be taking over the market due to its novel approach to income sharing with all content creators. Kick.com wants to provide unique benefits to everyone involved in the live-streaming community.
What is Kick.com?
Kick is being marketed as a streaming platform that will financially benefit creators, and the full version was published in January. Kick positions itself as a creator-friendly platform with advantageous policies that would entice even the smallest broadcaster to give it a shot.
It aspires to be Twitch's newest challenger, despite the fact that the Amazon-owned platform has been the most established venue for players to stream games over the years, as competitors like Mixer have shut down their operations. Nonetheless, it has some celebrity endorsement, as Tyler 'Trainwreck' Niknam made headlines when he announced his move to Kick.
Not only that, Kick has announced its first big partnership with Formula One team Alfa Romeo, and other major creators such as Kai Cenat and iShowSpeed are reported to be heading to Kick.
Who created Kick?
While Tyler 'Trainwreck' Niknam revealed a while ago that he will be joining Kick as an advisor in February 2023, the question as to who owns Kick is still unknown. Stake.com, a cryptocurrency gaming platform, appears to be supporting the project. According to job postings from Australia-based start-up Easygo, "Kick.com is a new venture created by the founders of Easygo and Stake.com."
Stake accounts also established and moderated the Kick subreddit in the past. Stake has not confirmed ownership of the platform as of this writing, but was a significant advertiser of Trainwreck on Twitch before being banned from the platform.
What are the features that are included in the platform?
Tyler 'Trainwreck' Niknam publicized his switch to Kick in late 2022. He also explained why he was doing so and what Kick has to offer others. Thus far, he has pitched Kick as a creator-friendly platform that would eclipse Twitch, and he appears to be confident in its success. Not only that, but Niknam claimed that every streamer, regardless of their audience or popularity, will be compensated.
As a result, here are among the advantages that Kick.com hopes to introduce according to Niknam:
There will be no unexplained bans, as is common on Twitch.
95-5 revenue share
Kick's creator program formula is based on the number of hours a streamer streams, a flat rate based on Kick's advertising CPMs (cost per thousand), the streamer's average viewers, and viewer demographics and engagements. According to Trainwreck, further information regarding the program will be released in the near future.
Donations and Withdrawals
All donations made to live streamers will be returned in full and withdrawals on the same day. Streamers on Kick will be able to be paid on a monthly basis via Kick's payment processor Stripe, or on the same day after the stream concludes in popular cryptocurrencies Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Enabling ethical gambling
What truly distinguishes Kick from Twitch is the presence of a specialized gambling component. Twitch has prohibited unlicensed gambling/slot websites, including stake.com. Kick.com, on the other hand, appears to have taken a more tolerant approach, allowing streamers to participate in slot machines and gambling activities. The website includes a gambling area to make navigation easier.
Live streamers will earn a consistent revenue
“The life of a Twitch streamer is working an impossible number of hours trying to find success,” Trainwreck said in an interview. “For all, but the largest creators, these hours go unrewarded. Twitch ignores small and mid-sized creators and gives their budget to a select small group of streamers via huge paid contracts.
“Small to middle-sized creators have few paid opportunities on Twitch and are expected to get by on their unfair subscription revenue split and meager ad programs. Kick could spend millions of dollars acquiring large streamers exclusively. Instead, we’re choosing to invest in all creators,” he added.
However, Trainwreck stated that it will take time for every streamer to be compensated for their efforts, but Kick's creator programme is a start.
