Streaming News for Week of Sept 25th 2023

Twitch News

• Direct sharing of edited clips to TikTok is now live for all creators. You can take advantage of the ‘Save to TikTok Drafts’ option to add captions or perform deeper edits on TikTok before posting.
• A new Ad Scheduler experiment is being introduced, which will run ads at Twitch-determined frequencies and lengths. This optimization aims to increase ad revenue while enhancing the viewer experience. Channels included in this experiment will be automatically opted into this system.
• Approximately 20% of streamers will receive a new Chat and Events experience in the coming weeks. This update intends to provide more customizable feeds and in-feed notifications of key events.
• A new global emote, PopNemo, was launched recently. Twitch mentions that it’s only available for a limited time, so make sure to check it out while it’s still active.
• The Shared Ban System has been expanded, allowing you to share bans with up to 50 channels, up from the previous limit of 30.
• Twitch has introduced a new Turbo promotion that appears over chats when ads run. It encourages viewers to subscribe for an ad-free experience.
• You can now conveniently view, download, and share vertically edited clips on mobile devices.
• Twitch is unveiling a new invite-only Copyright School. Streamers who have received a copyright strike and are invited to the program may have one strike removed from their account upon successful completion.
• In the near future, Twitch will be launching a new Privacy Center. This center will provide creators with insights into their privacy on Twitch and access to privacy controls, allowing for better management of their privacy settings.

Streaming Industry News

• YouTube has introduced a new vertical editing tool known as “YouTube Create.” Initially available exclusively on Android devices in select countries, including France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, the UK, and the USA, with plans to expand to more countries and iOS in 2024.
• Additionally, YouTube is launching “Dream Screen,” an AI-powered image and video background generator for Shorts, along with AI-based dubbing and translations.
• Creators have an exciting opportunity with Fourthwall, as they are currently matching gifted memberships until the end of September. This means that when someone gifts memberships during your live stream, Fourthwall automatically doubles them, resulting in twice the number of members and profits. If you’re not using Fourthwall yet, it’s an ideal time to get started.
• In other news, Twitter is discontinuing Circles at the end of October 2023, raising questions about the fate of current Circle-based tweets.
• Discord has introduced Capture Devices as a screen share option, enhancing the platform’s functionality.
• Instagram is testing Avatar Reactions for live streams, adding a new layer of interactivity to the platform.
• In a unique development, deepfake Chinese influencers are now streaming 24/7 in China, highlighting the evolving landscape of online content.
• LegalEagle has released a video discussing Reaction Streamers and the law, providing valuable insights into the legal aspects of content creation.
• Indian mobile game streaming service Loco boasts nearly half a million daily users, underlining the growing popularity of gaming content in India.
• Paramount is looking to collaborate with sports-based content creators through their new Sports Creator Studio, presenting exciting opportunities for creators in the sports niche.

Kick Coverage Reduction

Due to recent developments on the Kick platform, there will be a notable reduction in our coverage of the platform in the near term. This decision stems from concerns related to the effectiveness of Kick’s moderation and safety tools. While we have previously covered Kick with the intention of witnessing improvements in these areas, the events of the past few days have raised significant doubts about the platform’s commitment to enhancing user safety and content moderation.

Moving forward, our coverage of Kick will primarily focus on critical stories that pertain to the platform’s operations, policies, and any noteworthy events that impact its user base. We will continue to monitor the situation and may reconsider our coverage stance if Kick demonstrates substantial improvements in its moderation and safety mechanisms. Our commitment remains to provide our audience with accurate and relevant information while prioritizing the well-being and security of online communities.