Popular streaming site Twitch has informed partnered streamers that they are lifting their exclusivity agreement that prevented streamers from streaming on other platforms. In an email sent out Tuesday morning, Twitch outlined their change in policy in due part to the recognition that content creators on their site use multiple platforms to connect with their community.
While the news of multicasting is being celebrated throughout the streaming community, Twitch does place a few limitations when it comes to simulcasting to what they call “Twitch-like” platforms (YouTube, Facebook Live, etc) stating, “We believe engaging with two streams at once can lead to a suboptimal experience for your community.” According to their statement, Twitch will allow live simulcasting on “short form, mobile services” such as TikTok and Instagram. Simulcasting on “Twitch-like” platforms is still not allowed. Streamers can stop their stream on Twitch and start a new stream on Facebook Live and/or YouTube without fear of breaching their partnership agreement though.
In an interview with The Washington Post, current and former Twitch employees stated Twitch did away with warnings and punishments for any partner that was multicasting or simulcasting. Devin Nash, founder of Novo.tv, further went on to explain to The Washington Post, “The exclusivity clause always only applied to content being created on Twitch,” and that “You could always stream on Twitch for an hour, stop your stream and go stream anywhere else. Twitch doesn’t own that content, you do. They’re licensing the content you create on Twitch for 24 hours. You can stop your stream and stream elsewhere. That’s always been the case. Nothing changed.”
Image from: Twitch
