Twitch Executive Responds to Revenue Share Backlash

A top Twitch executive has addressed the controversy surrounding the platform's recent changes to its revenue sharing model. The changes, announced last month, mean new premium partners will no longer receive a 70/30 revenue split, while existing partners will see their share adjusted. As of June 1, 2023, premium partners will receive 70% of their first $100,000 in annual earnings, after which the split will revert to 50/50. The Twitch community has pushed back against the decision, with many arguing that the platform's ownership by Amazon, a company with a trillion-dollar valuation, should enable it to maintain the more favorable revenue split. In an interview with The Washington Post, chief monetization officer Mike Minton countered that the issue is more complex than it seems. Minton emphasized that as an Amazon-owned company, Twitch is expected to operate as a self-sustaining business. He also noted that Amazon invests heavily in the Twitch community through its Prime subscription service. Minton suggested that many of the complaints stem not from the impact on current streamers, but rather from other streamers who feel they have lost access to a benefit they can no longer attain. He acknowledged that the company considered alternative options, including maintaining the 70/30 split for all streamers, but ultimately determined that such options were not viable for the long-term health of the business.