Twitch has become the most well-known streaming platform for content creators on the internet. Its potential for attracting viewers has become both persuasive and competitive, setting the trend for prospective users to build their brand and grow their followers with unlimited possibilities.
Whether you’re looking to stream video game content or observe streaming videos, Twitch has created unique and user-friendly ways to stay engaged in their platform. One such way is through channel points that allow viewers the prospects of actually getting monetary rewards for their participation.
So, if you want to learn more about building points that can lead to financial incentives as well as streaming entertainment, read on.
What are Twitch channel points?
Twitch uses what is known as channel points as a new cash incentive that can be earned by active viewers in an explicit channel. The points can be redeemed for temporary special chat features or custom channel rewards. This is according to the guidelines you can find on Twitch’s site: https://help.twitch.tv/s/article/channel-points-guide?language=en_US. The channel points allow users to create streams that are more general and shared with their viewers. This custom reward allows users to be even more creative with the content they make accessible to dedicated viewers.
Who can set them up?
Channel points differ by channel, but the amounts are set up by the creators who usually decide the required channel points for viewers to redeem. In order to start using your channel points, you just click on the channel point icon placed at the bottom of the chat window. See an example here:
Channel points are enabled for all Twitch Affiliates and Partners. Twitch affiliates are users who stream content and become qualified streamers through the Twitch Affiliate Program. Twitch Affiliates earn income on Twitch while building their audience and streaming toward Twitch Partner eminence. So, that makes Twitch sharing that much more of a treat.
Twitch, however, is still developing their system and early access is limited to only a few select Affiliates and Partners. But not to fret, because Twitch is advancing and developing their site and programs daily and you can expect to see access roll out to all affiliate partners sometime in the very near future.
How can viewers get channel points?
Twitch encourages active viewership and interaction through different ways of getting points. The Twitch base amount of earnings is 10 points per 5 minutes of viewing, but by clicking on active bonus points with 5 minutes of watch time, you can earn up to 50 points. This, in turn, allows subscribers to benefit from “double” watch time points. Following a channel can give you up to 300 points and watching 2 streams back-to-back can add another 300 points in rewards. The average viewer earns 220 points per hour, so the earning potential can boost your points higher in rewards. The more you watch, follow and participate, the more points you can earn. As long as you stay engaged in eligible channels, you can continue to accumulate points from that channel.
The benefit of channel points for viewers and streamers
Channel Points make you a part of a community, and the more support that goes into that community, the more you earn. For the creator of content, channel points increase audiences and promote and commercialize your channel. For the viewers, it brings more recognition from the community and becoming a central part of Raids, which help streamers send their viewers to another live channel at the end of their stream to introduce their audience to a new channel, all while having some fun along the way.
How points can increase engagement
Channel points add more value to a creator’s channel. It gives your channel its own exclusive personality. It allows you to customize your own rewards and allows a viewer to choose which game or map they can play next. A viewer can customize game characters and chat with other viewers and grow their friend requests. Perks and rewards easily become incentives for long- lasting subscriptions and multiple interactions. Viewers can redeem their points for a number of default options that integrate into the chatting experience.You can choose emotes—which are used as a way to convey or respond to something that is happening in the live stream—or claim various rewards. The channel points program allows streamers to become closer to their audience.
With channel points, viewers can receive points for every 5 minutes of live viewing for non-subscribers. Subscribers gain a multiplier bonus depending on their subscription tier. They can receive active points for every 15 minutes of live viewing for non-subscribers. They can take part in Raids. They can receive points upon first following a channel. They can tune into consecutive streams.
As Twitch continues to modify and tweak their system, the Channel Points program helps streamers build their audience, and viewers engage in a myriad of creative content. So, even if a viewer can’t afford a monthly subscription or donation, they can still maximize engagement through streamers who find the most creative and fun ways to set up their channel points, making Twitch the most imaginative and accommodating platform to stream innovative and inventive content, providing all potential visitors with abundant reasons to join in on the fun.
For a more in depth guide on Twitch channel points, check out this page on Twitch.