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| What is Kick, the streaming platform that's signed up xQc? | What is Kick, the streaming platform that's signed up xQc? |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Amouranth and xQc have millions of online followers between them, and have recently moved to Kick | Amouranth and xQc have millions of online followers between them, and have recently moved to Kick |
| If you want to watch your favourite streamer, chances are you'll jump on Twitch. But is that about to change? | If you want to watch your favourite streamer, chances are you'll jump on Twitch. But is that about to change? |
| Rival Kick has been grabbing headlines after it poached Amouranth and xQc - two of the biggest names on the Amazon-owned platform. | Rival Kick has been grabbing headlines after it poached Amouranth and xQc - two of the biggest names on the Amazon-owned platform. |
| Those high-profile converts have inspired other smaller streamers to follow them, helped by the promise of a larger revenue cut. | Those high-profile converts have inspired other smaller streamers to follow them, helped by the promise of a larger revenue cut. |
| But not everyone is sold and opinions are mixed on the new contender. | But not everyone is sold and opinions are mixed on the new contender. |
| It's fair to say Twitch has had a tough time recently - some streamers quit in protest against plans for stricter advertising rules, forcing it to abandon them. | It's fair to say Twitch has had a tough time recently - some streamers quit in protest against plans for stricter advertising rules, forcing it to abandon them. |
| And then Amouranth and xQc went Kick in the space of 48 hours. | And then Amouranth and xQc went Kick in the space of 48 hours. |
| It's reported that xQc was tempted over with a deal worth about $100m (£78m), although he's been broadcasting on both platforms since. | It's reported that xQc was tempted over with a deal worth about $100m (£78m), although he's been broadcasting on both platforms since. |
| Twitch vs Kick | Twitch vs Kick |
| If you jump on Kick, which launched officially in January this year, you'll notice it looks quite similar to Twitch. | If you jump on Kick, which launched officially in January this year, you'll notice it looks quite similar to Twitch. |
| There's the usual rolling page of livestreams which you can filter by category or game title. | There's the usual rolling page of livestreams which you can filter by category or game title. |
| And there's a chat, where fans can talk to each other and the person streaming, with options to subscribe or tip the creator. | And there's a chat, where fans can talk to each other and the person streaming, with options to subscribe or tip the creator. |
| Payment's one of the big differences - and big attractions - of Kick. | Payment's one of the big differences - and big attractions - of Kick. |
| At the moment, it's letting all content creators keep 95% of their subscription revenue, compared with Twitch's 50% and YouTube's 70%. | At the moment, it's letting all content creators keep 95% of their subscription revenue, compared with Twitch's 50% and YouTube's 70%. |
| For streamers like Dean, also known as AverageDad, that makes switching a no-brainer. | For streamers like Dean, also known as AverageDad, that makes switching a no-brainer. |
| Dean says he can earn more money by streaming on Kick | Dean says he can earn more money by streaming on Kick |
| "Why would you not want to make twice as much as you would do on another platform?" he says. | "Why would you not want to make twice as much as you would do on another platform?" he says. |
| Dean, from Greater Manchester, left Twitch earlier this month and now streams on various platforms including Kick, which he says will give Twitch "a good old fight". | Dean, from Greater Manchester, left Twitch earlier this month and now streams on various platforms including Kick, which he says will give Twitch "a good old fight". |
| "At the end of the day, content creators want to earn revenue every which way possible," he says. | "At the end of the day, content creators want to earn revenue every which way possible," he says. |
| High stakes | High stakes |
| Another big difference between the two is Kick's more relaxed content policy. | Another big difference between the two is Kick's more relaxed content policy. |
| And its gambling streams, which feature prominently on the platform and regularly appear in its top three categories, have been a talking point. | And its gambling streams, which feature prominently on the platform and regularly appear in its top three categories, have been a talking point. |
| Kick was co-founded by Ed Craven, the billionaire owner of crypto and betting site Stake.com, which sponsors Alfa Romeo's F1 team and Everton FC. | Kick was co-founded by Ed Craven, the billionaire owner of crypto and betting site Stake.com, which sponsors Alfa Romeo's F1 team and Everton FC. |
| Stake.com was among the accounts banned during a recent gambling crackdown on Twitch. | Stake.com was among the accounts banned during a recent gambling crackdown on Twitch. |
| And some streamers, including hugely popular Pokimane, have said Kick's gambling links put them off. | And some streamers, including hugely popular Pokimane, have said Kick's gambling links put them off. |
| She told her 9.3m followers moving there would compromise her morals. | She told her 9.3m followers moving there would compromise her morals. |
| But Dean dismisses much of the criticism as a "smear campaign" because there are still some gambling streams on Twitch, such as slots and roulette streams from companies officially licensed to run them. | But Dean dismisses much of the criticism as a "smear campaign" because there are still some gambling streams on Twitch, such as slots and roulette streams from companies officially licensed to run them. |
| As well as investing in Kick, Stake.com sponsors Everton FC | As well as investing in Kick, Stake.com sponsors Everton FC |
| Some streamers have also described Kick as a much more toxic place, particularly for LGBT streamers and people of colour. | Some streamers have also described Kick as a much more toxic place, particularly for LGBT streamers and people of colour. |
| They say there are fewer options for dealing with harassment and abuse. | They say there are fewer options for dealing with harassment and abuse. |
| Nic from Leeds, otherwise known as NicScreams, says streaming on Kick wouldn't feel safe for her or her community of followers. | Nic from Leeds, otherwise known as NicScreams, says streaming on Kick wouldn't feel safe for her or her community of followers. |
| She's also concerned about some big signings, such as Adin Ross, who was banned from Twitch. | She's also concerned about some big signings, such as Adin Ross, who was banned from Twitch. |
| "He's quite openly homophobic. He's openly misogynistic," says Nic. | "He's quite openly homophobic. He's openly misogynistic," says Nic. |
| "There are videos of him abusing random women on the internet because of their appearance, and nothing happens. | "There are videos of him abusing random women on the internet because of their appearance, and nothing happens. |
| "He's still streaming and he's still making money on Kick." | "He's still streaming and he's still making money on Kick." |
| BBC Newsbeat's asked Kick for a comment and is waiting for a response. | BBC Newsbeat's asked Kick for a comment and is waiting for a response. |
| It's fair to point out the platform isn't a content free-for-all - it does have rules against drug use and discrimination. | It's fair to point out the platform isn't a content free-for-all - it does have rules against drug use and discrimination. |
| And xQc already got in trouble for copyright infringement when he streamed Batman film The Dark Knight on his channel. | And xQc already got in trouble for copyright infringement when he streamed Batman film The Dark Knight on his channel. |
| But Nic says she feels that Twitch does more to combat hate speech. | But Nic says she feels that Twitch does more to combat hate speech. |
| "If there's something going down in my stream that I don't like or my community doesn't like, I know that Twitch will look out for me," she says. | "If there's something going down in my stream that I don't like or my community doesn't like, I know that Twitch will look out for me," she says. |
| Nic describes her channel on Twitch as a safe space for women and the LGBT+ community | Nic describes her channel on Twitch as a safe space for women and the LGBT+ community |
| Nic admits, though, that it's become more difficult to make money on Twitch, and she's gone from streaming full-time to part-time. | Nic admits, though, that it's become more difficult to make money on Twitch, and she's gone from streaming full-time to part-time. |
| Although it backed down on proposals to restrict its advertising options, it's still going ahead with another unpopular measure. | Although it backed down on proposals to restrict its advertising options, it's still going ahead with another unpopular measure. |
| It's banning simulcasting, where streamers go live on multiple different platforms at the same time- something many do to boost their income. | It's banning simulcasting, where streamers go live on multiple different platforms at the same time- something many do to boost their income. |
| Twitch scraps ad changes after streamers leave | |
| A gaming safe space with screams, jumps and scares | |
| TikTok Orca attack videos might not be what they seem | |
| "Financially, it's terrible to stream on Twitch," says Nic. | "Financially, it's terrible to stream on Twitch," says Nic. |
| "You work really hard to turn this into a career or a side hustle, and it feels like Twitch are very quick to take that away." | "You work really hard to turn this into a career or a side hustle, and it feels like Twitch are very quick to take that away." |
| Ninja has since re-joined Twitch since Mixer was shut down | Ninja has since re-joined Twitch since Mixer was shut down |
| So will Kick be a success? | So will Kick be a success? |
| Lots of people have pointed out similarities to Mixer - a short-lived Twitch competitor launched by Microsoft. | Lots of people have pointed out similarities to Mixer - a short-lived Twitch competitor launched by Microsoft. |
| It made headlines by signing up popular Fortnite streamer Ninja in a deal worth $50m (£39m), but was shut down just a year later. | It made headlines by signing up popular Fortnite streamer Ninja in a deal worth $50m (£39m), but was shut down just a year later. |
| So far, perhaps not surprisingly, Amouranth and xQc's Kick follower numbers are nowhere near their Twitch levels. | So far, perhaps not surprisingly, Amouranth and xQc's Kick follower numbers are nowhere near their Twitch levels. |
| But Dean is convinced Kick will be different. | But Dean is convinced Kick will be different. |
| "I think the conversation is going to be more about Kick in five years than Twitch," he says. | "I think the conversation is going to be more about Kick in five years than Twitch," he says. |
| Kick's suggested more big names like xQc will be joining, and Dean thinks that can only help streamers like him. | Kick's suggested more big names like xQc will be joining, and Dean thinks that can only help streamers like him. |
| "When xQc stops streaming, all of his viewers don't just go, 'I'm not going to watch any more'," he says. | "When xQc stops streaming, all of his viewers don't just go, 'I'm not going to watch any more'," he says. |
| "They'll hang out for a little bit, maybe look at some different streams, which is going to allow that platform to constantly evolve and constantly move forward." | "They'll hang out for a little bit, maybe look at some different streams, which is going to allow that platform to constantly evolve and constantly move forward." |
| Follow Newsbeat on Twitter and YouTube. | Follow Newsbeat on Twitter and YouTube. |
| Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Gaming | Gaming |
| Fortnite | Fortnite |
| Twitch | Twitch |
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