Twitch has made a significant change, going beyond previous mobile platform options like TikTok and Instagram by allowing streamers to broadcast on any live streaming service at the same time. This move creates new opportunities for publishers, leading to greater visibility on alternative platforms.
However, this depends on broadcasters not making special agreements with Twitch.
Twitch heavyweights like XQc, Amouranth, and Nickmercs have already explored opportunities on rival platforms. While xQc and Nickmercs have non-exclusive deals, Amouranth’s deal also appears to be non-exclusive. Ninja terminated his exclusive contract with Twitch in 2022, enabling multi-platform simultaneous broadcasting, and expressed his satisfaction with this latest development.
The company has set some guidelines for this new simulcast policy. Streamers are required to ensure that the quality of their streams on Twitch matches or exceeds that on other platforms. Streamers are advised not to share links from their Twitch communities to simultaneous broadcasts on other platforms.
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While links to third-party websites are still allowed on their channels’ About pages, linking to other simultaneous sites while livestreaming on Twitch is prohibited. Additionally, publishers cannot use third-party services to aggregate chats across platforms. In the future, the platform plans to offer a tool for broadcasters to indicate that they are simulcasting.
Additionally, Twitch has updated its off-service behavior policy to include doxxing and swatting as sanctioned behavior. This policy revision aims to increase protection for broadcasters. The addition of doxxing follows a recent controversy in which YouTuber Jacksfilms accused SSSniperWolf of doxxing. YouTube responded by temporarily shutting down SSSniperWolf’s channel.
The platform also announced product changes, renaming Guest Star to Stream Together. This feature now includes the ability to merge chats. Additionally, a TikTok-style Discovery Feed showcasing live channels is currently in testing. Soon, Twitch’s alert system will support custom animated emoticons from streamers, improving notification features like subscribers and Bit donations.