Twitch, the popular game-streaming site, has a funding problem. Not related to the visitor -- it's owned past Amazon and is simply fine -- but its streamers. Like on other video platforms, creators are paid based on ad views and subscriptions, and by all accounts not at a very loftier rate. While popular streamers make a living -- helped in office by sponsorship deals and the similar -- it can be hard for smaller channels to make ends encounter. That'south why the sub-economy of donations and tips exists, and today, Twitch is trying to formalize that economy with a new feature it calls "Cheering."

It all starts with a new Twitch currency called Bits. You lot tin can buy Bits "starting at $one.40 for 100," and then fritter them away while supporting your favorite streamer. A Cheer, to exist articulate, is an animated chat emote. Typing "Cheer1" will generate a grey billowy triangle, and cost you 1.iv cents. "Cheer100" brings upwardly a dancing purple diamond, and costs you $1.4. You can Cheer whatever corporeality you please (including irregular figures, and the corresponding emotes go larger and larger, up to a "Cheer10000," a $140 tip represented past a fractured red star. "If channel subscriptions are the equivalent to belongings flavor tickets for your favorite sports team," said Twitch CEO Emmett Shear, "Cheering is like getting a crowd moving ridge started during the game."

Bits GIF

Likewise equally feeling warm and fuzzy inside, viewers that Cheer will (probably) get visibly thanked. Streamers can brand use of third-political party integrations from Muxy, TwitchAlerts and others to automatically generate on-screen messages to thank people for their donations, if they please. Given the positive feedback loop that provides, y'all'd imagine many broadcasters will take reward of those integrations. Cheerers will likewise earn "special badges that make them more visible to the community" in chat. Purchasing a Twitch channel subscription has similar in-chat benefits.

At present, only 30 or so large-name streamers are participating in the Cheering program, which is in a "limited beta." All these streamers are "partners" on Twitch, meaning they can already take advantage of the platform's monetization features like subscriptions. Many of these channels have donations and the like through PayPal and other services, and this is a clear play to bring tips within the Twitch ecosystem.

There are yet some questions to be answered well-nigh the program. Information technology'south non obvious how much of the coin volition go to streamers, and how much Twitch will take as a cut. Twitch never discusses such revenue details publicly, but top-tier streamers take previously said (under anonymity due to not-disclosure agreements) that subscription revenue shares are pegged at 70% for streamers, thirty% for Twitch. Given all the beta testers for Cheering represent similarly pop channels, information technology seems likely that a similar figure is in play hither.

It's too unclear how widespread Twitch wants Cheering to be. Information technology says the feature "will eventually be rolled out on a broader scale every bit we refine the program based on community feedback," adding that it'south "always thinking in terms of how to benefit the broader broadcasting customs." But although the vast amount of money volition alter hands via the massive "partner" channels, Cheering has the potential to exist a bully manner for more niche outfits to brand some money for their efforts.

Update: After a less-than-pleasant reaction from certain corners of the Twitch community, the company has clarified that streamers will get 1 cent for equally pledged -- that's roughly lxx per centum, as we postulated. Twitch besides bodacious concerned users that it plans to expand the programme to more broadcasters (including non-English streamers) as soon as possible.