Kick, a new streaming service that wants to compete with Twitch, has accomplished a huge feat by joining forces with the Alfa Romeo F1 team. One of the most popular Twitch streamers, Tyler “Trainwreck” Niknam, initially made the platform known to the public last year. He also declared his status as a non-owner advisor and non-exclusive streamer.
Kick’s beginnings are mainly unclear, but it came to light in December 2022 when Trainwreck announced his switch to Kick.com, a new streaming service, while denouncing Twitch for a number of flaws. Trainwreck highlighted Twitch’s unfavorable business practices towards creators in his thorough thread, claiming that the company takes the biggest revenue cut of any live-streaming platform at 50% and that streamers only get $2.50 per subscription, with even lower payouts for those who live outside of developed nations. He further claimed that Twitch couldn’t keep their promise of a 70/30 income split and accused them of doing so.
Kick recently unveiled its creator program, offering a novel incentive: streamers would be paid a set amount per hour, independent of the size of their following. This meant that the rate would depend on a number of variables, including advertising CPMs, average viewers, interaction, and demographics. Trainwreck emphasizes that streamers on Kick won’t be able to replace their existing sources of income with the hourly stipend from the Creator Program. The announcement created a commotion in the streaming industry, and many people expressed their approval on social media. The Alfa Romeo F1 team and Kick have reportedly formed a collaboration, further solidifying Kick’s position in the market.
As part of the collaboration, Kick’s branding will be prominently featured on the team’s C43 vehicle for a few races, providing the streaming service with a highly visible platform. Kick may also host interactive streams featuring Alfa Romeo drivers to further improve the viewing experience. These streams give viewers a chance to communicate with their favorite drivers and ask questions in real time. Kick’s audacious marketing approach reflects the company’s ambitious plan to compete with well-established juggernauts like Twitch and YouTube in the competitive online streaming sector.
