Twitch’s Affiliate Program wants to help streamers make bank

Twitch today announced a new way for small-time streamers to make money playing video games: a new tier of partnership called the Affiliate Program.

Until now, the only way to make money directly from streaming on Twitch was to become a Partner. Streamers partnered with Twitch enjoy a number of benefits, including access to the Cheers tipping system, Twitch’s new marketplace, and subscription services.

Non-partnered streamers didn’t have any of those benefits, and the requirements for getting a partnership were (and still are) pretty steep. Twitch says it requires a high average concurrent viewership and a consistent schedule of at least three streams a week.

Naturally, not everyone will be allowed to take part in the new program. But at least Affiliates have a shot at some of those benefits without necessarily having to meet the high standards for partnership. In fact, the bar for entry is so low even I almost qualify, and I’m barely a Twitch streamer. According to Twitch, Affiliates must have:

• At least 500 total minutes broadcast in the last 30 days
• At least 7 unique broadcast days in the last 30 days
• An average of 3 concurrent viewers or more over the last 30 days
• At least 50 Followers

It’s likely this will benefit Twitch just as much as it benefits streamers. The first perk Affiliates can look forward to is Cheering — and Amazon keeps a fraction of every cent given in a Cheer. In the future, a spokesman says Affiliates will be able to access “revenue programs such as Subscriptions, Game Commerce, and Advertising.”

Twitch says the Affiliate Program will go live “very soon.” There is no application process, and qualified streamers will be invited to participate.