Kick.com is a new and up-and-coming live-streaming platform that has been generating a lot of buzz in the industry recently. Many top streamers have acknowledged the platform and have even begun using it themselves. This growing popularity has many people curious about what exactly Kick.com is and how it works.
New Alternative To Twitch!
Kick.com is a new streaming platform that has recently emerged as a potential competitor to the dominant force in the industry. The newly founded platform has made some auspicious promises that have many streamers reconsidering their stance on Twitch. A collection of big streamers have already moved their content to Kick, citing issues with Twitch policies.
Here are the biggest benefits and promises of Kick.com that are attracting Twitch streamers:
- All creators are eligible for a “Sub Button”
- Kick.com plans to offer a 95% split of all subscriber income to creators
- 100% of all tips made on Kick will go to the streamer directly, with same-day withdrawal availability
- An exclusive creator program that pays partners based on hours watched and total viewers
- A fair and clear TOS with rules governing ethical gambling
- Transparent and consistent moderation with a dedicated support team
- A new and innovative discovery system that will help creators grow their channels
- A new system for dealing with DMCA complaints
Currently, not much is known about Kick, including who owns it or what the plans are for the future. The site only has basic streaming features, as it is still in beta. However, its promise to give content creators a greater share of revenue has already attracted attention from top streamers like TrainwrecksTV.
Other streaming services have tried to compete with Twitch.tv in the past, but none have been as successful. Mixer.com, owned by Microsoft, was a popular streaming website that saw big names like Ninja sign exclusive contracts to stream on the platform. However, it shut down in 2020 after only four years. Youtube Gaming Live and Facebook Gaming also have their own streaming platforms, but none are as popular as Twitch.tv currently.
What’s Wrong With Twitch?
The platform was created in response to what many streamers see as Twitch’s neglect of its creators and its unfair policies on payouts. Some of the most common criticism include:
- Highest revenue share in the live streaming industry
- Ambiguous terms of service
- Lack of support for smaller streamers
- Limited monetization options
- Poor moderation
TrainwrecksTV, one of the most popular live streamers on Twitch, discussed his decision to join Kick in a TwitLonger post, stating that; Twitch has “deemed most of us irrelevant” and has built an empire “off of our backs”.
In a statement, TrainwrecksTV criticized Twitch for padding the pockets of a handful of creators while neglecting the majority of its streamers, and for cutting pay in ways that streamers believe are unfair.
One of the major criticisms of Twitch is its high percentage split of streamer income. At 50%, every Twitch streamer only receives $2.50 of each subscription, and even less in non-first-world countries. This is seen as particularly unfair given that Twitch does little to help streamers build their businesses and only acts as a host for their content.
In contrast, Kick.com offers a 95% split of all subscriber income to creators, as well as 100% of all tips made on the platform, called “kicks”. Kick.com also has an exclusive creator program that pays partners based on hours watched and total viewers, with the option for same-day payouts.
Why Are Streamers Moving To Kick.com?
At this time, it is unclear how many Twitch streamers have moved to Kick.com, but the platform’s promise of better payouts and support for creators has undoubtedly piqued the interest of many in the live-streaming industry.
TranwrecksTV, Roshtein, Xposed, and DeuceAce are just a few of the big names that have already made the switch to Kick.com. The most appealing aspect of Kick.com, based on streamer feedback, is its focus on creators. They appreciate the platform’s willingness to listen to their input and understand that the success of the platform depends on the success of its streamers. Others also highlighted Kick.com’s commitment to fair and transparent terms of service, as well as its plans to introduce new features to help streamers succeed.
Current Direction of Kick.com
Kick.com has a lot of work to do if it wants to compete with the established platform, Twitch.tv.
One of the biggest challenges for Kick.com is that it is currently only in a beta phase. This means that there are likely to be bugs and issues that need to be addressed before the platform can offer a smooth and seamless user experience.
The beta phase is a crucial time for a platform like Kick.com. It is the time when the developers can gather feedback from users and make necessary changes and improvements. This process can take time, and it is likely that Kick.com will need to continue to iterate and improve its platform before it can truly compete with Twitch.
What Is Holding Kick.com Back?
As a new streaming platform, Kick.com has faced its share of challenges in its beta phase. However, the support team has shown their dedication and efficiency in addressing and fixing these issues.
One of the major problems that users experienced was with the OTP and email code login process. Some users reported getting error messages such as ‘OTP Expired/Timeout’ and ‘Invalid OTP’ even when entering the codes within the allowed timeframe.
The support team promptly acknowledged the issue and worked to resolve it. They’ve revealed that the sudden influx in traffic had caused the AWS email service to struggle, leading to these login issues.
Another problem that creators faced was with accessing their stream keys. Some users reported getting stuck on an infinite loading loop, making it impossible for them to stream on the platform. The support team confirmed that this issue has been resolved as well.
In addition to fixing these issues, the support team is also working on an exclusive mobile app as well as improving auto-moderation and adding language filters to the platform.
Can Kick.com Compete With Twitch?
Another challenge for Kick.com is that it is entering a market that is already crowded and competitive. Twitch has a massive user base and a strong reputation, making it difficult for a new platform like Kick.com to gain a foothold.
Additionally, Twitch has a well-established ecosystem of content creators, viewers, and advertisers. This ecosystem has been built up over many years and is difficult to replicate. Kick.com will need to work hard to attract content creators and viewers to its platform, and to build relationships with advertisers.
Overall, while Kick.com has the potential to become a serious competitor to Twitch, it has a lot of work to do before it can reach that point. As a new and untested platform, it faces many challenges and obstacles, and it remains to be seen whether it will be able to overcome them and become a major player in the streaming market.
FAQ
What is the payment split on Kick.com?
Streamers on Kick.com receive a 95-5 revenue split with 95% going to the streamer and 5% to the platform. This is a significantly higher revenue share for streamers compared to other platforms.
Is TrainwrecksTV invested in Kick.com?
It is unclear whether TrainwrecksTV is invested in Kick.com. While TrainwrecksTV has stated that he is a “non-owner advisor” and “non-exclusive broadcaster” for the company, it has not been confirmed whether he has any actual financial stake in the platform.
Who is the owner of Kick.com?
The owner is unknown, however, in a recent Tweet, the support team at Kick.com confirmed that the ownership of the platform will be revealed once it is officially launched.
Even so, rumors have circulated that Stake.com is the owner of Kick.com, but according to an article from the Washington Post, representatives from Stake have confirmed that Eddie Craven, an owner of Stake, is merely an investor in Kick.com and not an owner. This information has not been confirmed by Kick.com or any other official sources, so it should be considered a rumor until more information is available.
What are the biggest concerns with Kick.com?
The lack of clarity around the ownership of the website rubs viewers and streamers alike the wrong way. Many users in the community have voiced these concerns on social media and Twitch’s own representatives flat-out called the project a “sham”.