Twitch announced Oct. 20 that it’s expanding its simulcasting policy to include all live streaming platforms. That means there are now a ton of new places to catch your favorite streaming creators.
The announcement comes as part of TwitchCon 2023, where Twitch also announced new safety guidelines like adding swatting and doxxing to its Off-Service Conduct Policy and allowing streamers to send anonymous warnings to chatters.
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Twitch had already updated its simulcasting guidelines in August of 2023, when it allowed simulcasting on mobile services like TikTok and Instagram. This policy change opens streamers up to other web-based platforms, including Twitch competitors like YouTube and Kick. (The latter has recently signed deals with prominent streamers like xQc, Amouranth, and Nickmercs.)
The new simulcasting policy still comes with its own guidelines. First and foremost, if a streamer has an exclusivity agreement with Twitch, they will not be allowed to simulcast to other platforms. Elsewhere, the new guidelines require that the Twitch users’ experience of a simulcast is “at a minimum, no less than the experience on other platforms or services.” This means the streamer must engage with the Twitch community as much, or more, than with the other non-Twitch users watching, as well as not shrink or degrade the Twitch stream’s video quality.
Under the new simulcasting guidelines, streamers also can’t provide links to their simulcast on other services during a stream. This rule only applies to streams and Twitch chats — streamers can still indicate where they’ll be simulcasting in the “About” section of their channel. Finally, streamers can’t use “third-party services that combine activity from other platforms or services,” like merging chats. The streamer can, however, use third party tools for personal use only.
