Kick has quickly become a name to watch in the live-streaming world, gaining traction with both streamers and viewers. But what’s next for this rising platform? In a recent podcast featuring Nazar Babenko, a product manager from Streams Charts, we got an inside look at the new features and improvements Kick is planning to roll out. From enhancing viewer engagement to expanding its global reach, Kick is gearing up for some exciting changes. Here’s what we learned.
Focusing on Viewer Engagement: The Heart of Kick’s Strategy
One of the top priorities for Kick in the coming months is to deepen viewer engagement. The platform knows that it’s not enough to attract viewers: they need to keep them coming back. In the podcast, Nazar shared his thoughts on the power of interactive features and how they’re shaping the future of live streaming.
Kick Talk: Eddie tells us what's next for Kick streaming
Kick is gearing up to introduce polls, channel points, and predictions: features that will allow viewers to engage with streams in real time. Whether it’s voting on a streamer’s next in-game move or participating in a live poll, these features are designed to make viewers feel like they’re part of the action. Eddie from Kick summed up the goal clearly:
“We need to ensure that people watch more live streams. They need to watch longer, and there’s more to watch.”
These upcoming engagement tools are key to achieving that, giving viewers more ways to interact and stay engaged. Nazar’s insights highlighted how interactive experiences tend to increase retention, a trend Streams Charts has tracked across platforms.
Expanding Globally: The Next Big Challenge
While Kick has made serious headway in English-speaking markets, the real growth potential lies beyond these borders. Regions like Turkey and Latin America have already proven fruitful for the platform, but now Kick is looking eastward, towards Asia. However, breaking into this region won’t be easy.
"You need to adapt the product to local tastes and expectations."
Nazar Babenko, Streams Charts Product Manager
During the conversation, Nazar emphasized the challenges that come with entering markets like South Korea and Thailand, where local players like Afreeca TV have established dominance. “You need to adapt the product to local tastes and expectations,” Nazar pointed out, emphasizing that a localized approach will be key to success.
Kick Talk: Nazar on how Kick could benefit from engagement tools
Kick’s team understands this. Eddie noted that Kick plans to adjust its product for regional preferences, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Asia represents a massive opportunity, and while the road may be challenging, Kick is prepared to tailor its platform to meet the demands of local audiences, a move that has already proven successful in Turkey and Latin America.
Using Data to Drive Growth: Lessons from the Leaders
Kick’s rise isn’t happening in isolation, it’s also learning from the giants of the industry like YouTube and Twitch. During the podcast, Nazar shared how data plays a pivotal role in helping platforms grow and adapt. With his work at Streams Charts, Nazar has seen firsthand how analytics and viewership patterns can guide key decisions.
"We want viewers to watch more streams, and cross-pollinating audiences is going to be really important."
Ed Craven, Kick co-founder
For Kick, one major focus is improving its recommendation system. “We want viewers to watch more streams, and cross-pollinating audiences is going to be really important,” Eddie explained. By analyzing data on viewer behavior, Kick aims to offer smarter recommendations, helping users discover new content and keep them engaged on the platform longer. Streams Charts provides some of this critical data, offering insights on viewership trends and helping platforms like Kick make more informed decisions.
Kick Talk: Nazar tells the story behind Streams Charts
Supporting Streamers: More Than Just a Revenue Split
While Kick’s 95/5 revenue split has grabbed attention for being one of the most streamer-friendly models in the industry, it’s only part of the story. Kick knows that supporting streamers means offering more than just a better pay cut. It’s about providing the tools they need to grow their communities and understand their audience.
During the podcast, Nazar pointed out that streamers also value analytics and engagement tools. Kick is working on improving its streamer tools, giving creators access to better data and helping them build and sustain their communities. Eddie highlighted how important it is to offer streamers more than just financial incentives: “We offer a really competitive opportunity for streamers,” he said, while also acknowledging that tools for community management and growth are just as crucial.
Kick Talk: Eddie and Andrew share opinions on Streams Charts
What’s Next: A Balanced Approach to Growth
Kick’s next phase of growth is ambitious, but it’s also grounded in a thoughtful approach. The platform is focusing on building deeper connections with both viewers and streamers by rolling out interactive features and leveraging data-driven insights. Kick is also carefully planning its global expansion, recognizing that localizing the product will be key to winning in competitive markets like Asia.
Nazar’s insights, along with Streams Charts’ data, highlight the importance of regional adaptation and viewer engagement. While Kick’s growth has been impressive so far, its ability to stay competitive in the future will depend on how well it implements these strategies.
The future of live streaming is evolving rapidly, and Kick is positioning itself as a platform that’s ready to adapt, learn, and grow.