On February 1, Ed Craven, the Co-Founder of Kick, revealed that the platform’s Creator Incentive Program had gone live. Applications are now open for a great feature that offers 'streamers the opportunity to make great content without having to worry about uncertain variables such as subs and donations.' Here’s everything you need to know about Kick’s program for content creators.
First announced on August 15, 2023, the Creator Incentive Program is basically a payout structure for content creators. Those eligible to come under its purview stand a chance to earn revenue on the still fledgling platform.
The @KickStreaming creator incentive program is now live. Applications are open & requirements public.
— Eddie (@StakeEddie) February 1, 2024
We're really looking forward to offering streamers the opportunity to make great content without having to worry about uncertain variables such as subs & donations. pic.twitter.com/XAcwm3wB3t
The Stake-backed website has so far trialed this much-anticipated program on 35 influencers with an average concurrent viewership of 10 to 1.5K viewers. Ed Craven added that he believed the industry's best days were ahead:
"The greatest days of live streaming are still to come. The greatest live content is still to be produced. The greatest streamers are still yet to do their first stream."
What is the Kick Creator Incentive Program?
The streaming service claimed this program is 'designed to compensate streamers with revenue per individual stream.' Having been prototyped on almost four dozen streamers from various genres and locations, including real-life streamers, high-intensity gamers, musicians, and artists, the company feels this feature is ready to be put to the test.
Kick added that it wants to give its content creators a bigger voice and allow them to speak for themselves, thus creating a device that works for serious influencers and 'not out-of-touch corporations.' The firm, which adopted an industry-first revenue program and follows the 95/5 subscription revenue split in favor of streamers, now wants its hardworking streamers to have the chance to capitalize on their creative endeavors.
How can a creator join the program?
Kick has set the following criteria for any creator to be eligible for this program:
- Abide by Kick's TOS, Community Guidelines, and DMCA Policy.
- Channel must be verified on Kick before applying.
- Channel profile setup with relevant links to the social media and a filled-in "About" section.
Some metrics also need to be achieved as well that can be viewed on the main site. Kick added that shortly, the application process would get integrated into the Kick Creator Dashboard to help every broadcaster track their performance metrics in real time.
Any creator meeting all the metrics can email the firm at kcip@kick.com from their Kick account's registered email. They have to remember to include their channel usernames, and the company's team will respond as soon as possible. One must remember that meeting these requirements is the bare minimum to apply and does not guarantee application approval. If streamers are unsuccessful, the Kick team will respond with further feedback on what must be improved to be eligible for this program.
Benefits of the Kick Creator Incentive Program
With the KCIP, not only do creators retain a substantial 95% of their subscription revenue but they're also compensated for the dedication and effort invested in curating, producing, and expanding their content. In a nutshell, Kick wants to value and reward their creative prowess and entrepreneurial spirit.
Moreover, there is no need to use any third-party intervention, as broadcasters don't need a manager or an agent to apply, meaning they are the ones in control. Additionally, the more they build their community, the larger will be the earnings through this scheme.
Kick Creator Incentive Program compared to YouTube and Twitch
Twitch's Partner Program is an upgrade on its Affiliate Program, and Partners are defined as 'creators who stream various content, from games, music, talk shows, and art, to just about anything else imaginable.' It is a slightly more complicated and lengthy procedure than Kick's, with the demands placed on those who want this special badge not at all easy.
Monetization can happen via four means: channel subscriptions & emotes, bits, hype chat, and ads. Each has its own criteria and definition, the details of which can be found here by readers.
The Partner Program also has special features like channel customization, VOD features, subscriber streams, and priority support, among others. Of course, it has a few qualification criteria that need to be met for broadcasters to be eligible, and they can be read in the link shared above.
When it comes to YouTube, its Partner Program (YPP) gives streamers greater access to the platform's resources and monetization features, alongside its Creator Support teams. Those eligible can also opt for revenue sharing from the ads displayed on their content.
Again, various criteria need to be met for influencers to become part of the program, but it is a far simpler process than Twitch. More details on where to apply, what is needed to do so, and lots more can be accessed here.
Having taken rapid strides in 2023, Kick has started the new year with a bang thanks to the announcement of its Creator Incentive Program. It could help the streaming service attract even more names of the ilk of xQc and Amouranth, so it will be exciting to see where the company stands at come December.
