Do you want to learn how to stream on Kick? It is a streaming platform, made its debut in early 2023. But what is this platform all about, who are its proprietors, how does one get the app, and how do the payment mechanisms work? Let’s unravel these questions!
Understanding Kick streaming
Kick functions as a streaming platform, quite akin to its counterparts such as Twitch, YouTube Live, Facebook Live, and the like. It allows viewers to subscribe to a creator’s channel, contribute tips, and engage in high-definition live streams. The platform is presently in its beta stage.
How does Kick differ from Twitch?
The distinguishing factor between Kick and Twitch lies in Kick’s commitment to being a ‘creator-friendly’ streaming platform. This implies that it retains a smaller share of creators’ earnings, adopts a more lenient stance towards explicit content, and strives for clarity in its guidelines. Essentially, Kick promotes itself as a platform advocating equitable terms for streamers.
On the surface, Kick might remind one of Twitch viewed through the lens of ‘The Matrix’ due to the strikingly similar homepage design, albeit in green and black instead of white and purple. However, delving deeper reveals a more complex comparison between Kick and Twitch.
How to stream on Kick?
Similar to Twitch, Kick presents a plethora of categories you can explore and stream. These encompass:
- Games: This includes everything from single-player storylines to Esports tournaments.
- IRL: Real-life content ranging from poolside activities and ASMR to outdoor travel experiences.
- Music: Features DJ sets, acoustic streams, dance classes, and much more.
- Gambling: An exclusively 18+ section, which we’ll explore in greater detail later.
- Creative: Encompasses a wide array of creative pursuits, including drawing, programming, arts & crafts, and beyond.
- Alternative: This is for unique content like watch parties, ‘just sleeping’ (yes, you may want to Google this), and other categories that don’t fit neatly elsewhere.
User count on Kick
Despite being a relatively new platform, Kick has already begun to establish its user base. While it might not yet be on par with Twitch, it had over 1 million active users as of March 2023. This is an impressive figure for such a young platform!
Kick’s payout to streamers
Kick has made a significant impact with its payout structure, providing a notable advantage to streamers. They take home 95% of the earnings from subscriptions, far surpassing the 50/50 split of Twitch and even the 70/30 arrangement of YouTube. Moreover, any tips, referred to as ‘kicks,’ are fully kept by streamers with Kick taking no commission or transfer fees.
Earning potential on Kick
To become an affiliate and start earning on Kick, the requirements include having 75 followers and a total of 5 hours streamed. This is a lower threshold compared to Twitch, which requires over 500 minutes (more than 8 hours) of streaming in the past 30 days to qualify for their Affiliate program.
Advertising opportunities on Kick
Currently, Kick mainly features banner ads and does not provide in-video advertising. However, as the platform evolves, it is expected to introduce in-video ads and potentially launch a ‘Kick Creator Program’, which would pay streamers for each hour they broadcast. In contrast, Twitch has a mature and comprehensive advertising model.
Exclusivity on Kick
Kick permits creators to multi-stream across various platforms, while Twitch tends to sign exclusivity agreements with top-earning streamers. In June 2023, Twitch introduced a $25 termination fee for Affiliates. In response, Kick seized the opportunity and offered to cover this fee for any Affiliate willing to switch over to their platform. While Kick is not exactly exclusive, it is clearly positioning itself as a viable alternative!
18+ content on Kick
Kick operates with a relatively relaxed moderation process, which could potentially allow some sexually themed content on the platform. However, their community guidelines are still stringent against violence, fraud, drugs, discrimination, and copyright infringement. This sets Kick apart from Twitch, which has been criticized for its strict policies on certain not-safe-for-work content, such as nudity, leading to some content being incorrectly flagged and removed.
Kick’s Launch Date Kick was initiated in October 2022 and officially launched for public use in January 2023. The hurried launch to market is thought by some to be in response to Twitch’s October 2022 ban on unregulated gambling.
Kick’s ownership
The public face of Kick streaming platform is Tyler ‘Trainwreck’ Niknam, a high-stakes online gambler who gained prominence on Twitch. Despite his success on Twitch, Trainwreck departed the platform towards the end of 2022 due to the imposed gambling prohibition.
Kick’s funding and its gambling connection
Kick has faced allegations of being ‘gambling-funded’. This perception arises primarily because one of Kick’s significant investors, Ed Craven, co-founded a crypto-gambling website named Stake, which has sponsored Trainwreck in the past. Stake has also been referred to as a ‘sister company’ by Kick personnel. Furthermore, Kick’s ‘Browse’ page prominently displays a ‘Gambling’ section. Until an official statement from Kick is released, these assertions remain speculative.
Downloading the Kick Streaming App You can download the Kick app on your Apple and Google devices or simply visit Kick.com to use it in your web browser.
Kick on Google Play Store Yes, the Kick streaming app is available for Android devices. You can freely download it from the Google Play Store.
Kick on the App Store The Kick streaming mobile app is also available for Apple users. You can download it for free from the App Store.
With the Kick app, you can watch live streams, join chats, subscribe to creators’ channels, make donations, and much more. However, currently, the app does not allow live broadcasting – that function is only available through the browser version.
How to stream on Kick: Step by step
Now that you’re familiar with Kick’s streaming terms and payouts, the next step is to figure out “how to stream on Kick”. The process is quite similar to going live on Twitch. Here are the steps:
- Visit Kick.com and log in. If you don’t have an account, you can create one in the top right corner.
- Click on the ‘Settings’ tab in the Creator Dashboard and go to ‘Stream Key’.
- Scroll down until you find ‘Stream URL’ and ‘Stream Key’.
- Open your preferred streaming software and enter the Stream URL and Stream Key when asked.
- Check that all output settings are compatible with your computer, then return to Kick.
- Click ‘Edit stream info’ in the bottom right. Name your new stream, categorize it, and choose the primary language. You’ll also decide if it’s an 18+ broadcast. Once completed, hit ‘Save’.
- Start streaming through your streaming software!
Conclusion
Whether you’re a seasoned streamer or new to the game, understanding how to stream on Kick can open up a world of opportunities. This platform, designed with creators in mind, has the potential to revolutionize the streaming industry, and knowing how to navigate it is key to maximizing your streaming success. Before you decide to stream on this new platform make sure to check out our comparison: Twitch vs Kick.com.
Featured image credit: Kerem Gülen/Midjourney
