Multistreaming is the simultaneous broadcasting of live content to multiple platforms, a strategy many creators use to expand their audience reach. The short answer for Twitch Affiliates is yes, you can stream your live content to other services at the same time you stream on Twitch. This freedom stems from recent updates to the platform’s contractual agreements, which significantly reduced restrictions on live broadcasts. Understanding the specific contractual boundaries, particularly those concerning recorded video, is paramount to prevent violating your agreement. This article clarifies the current rules and provides guidance on executing a successful multistreaming setup.
What the Twitch Affiliate Agreement Currently Allows
The most recent changes to the Twitch Monetized Streamer Agreement (MSA) have fundamentally shifted the landscape for Affiliates regarding live exclusivity. Affiliates are no longer required to broadcast their live content solely on Twitch. This policy change means you can now simulcast the same live show to multiple competing platforms, such as YouTube, Kick, or TikTok, without breaching your contract.
The removal of the live exclusivity clause grants Affiliates the flexibility to grow communities simultaneously. This is a significant departure from previous agreements, which enforced a strict requirement for live content to be exclusive to Twitch. You must adhere to specific simulcasting guidelines focused on maintaining a quality experience for the Twitch audience. These guidelines mandate that the quality of the stream on Twitch must be equal to or better than the quality on any other platform.
How Affiliate Rules Differ from Partner Rules
The distinction between Affiliate and Partner rules regarding live streaming has largely diminished with the introduction of the new MSA. Historically, Partners were subject to strict live exclusivity clauses, requiring all live content to be broadcast only on Twitch. This was a core component of the Partner agreement in exchange for premium benefits and support.
Now, both Affiliates and Partners are permitted to simulcast, leveling the playing field for live content distribution. The remaining differences between the programs center on other benefits, such as a higher revenue share tier for Partners and Affiliates reaching the Plus Program, better access to transcoding options, and a more personalized level of account management.
The Rule About Archived Content and VODs
While live simulcasting is now permitted, the most scrutinized aspect of the Affiliate agreement historically concerned the exclusivity of recorded content, or Video On Demand (VODs). The previous Affiliate contract included a 24-hour exclusivity window for VODs, meaning the recorded version of a live stream could not be uploaded to other platforms like YouTube for a full day. The updated Monetized Streamer Agreement appears to have removed this 24-hour restriction entirely for all monetized streamers.
This change means you can post your stream archives, clips, and highlights to other platforms immediately after the live broadcast concludes. The general policy now grants Affiliates the freedom to rapidly repurpose their content, allowing for a quicker turnaround on posting YouTube videos or clips derived directly from the live stream.
Managing Chat and Audience Across Platforms
Multistreaming presents a logistical challenge in audience engagement, particularly when managing multiple, separate chat feeds. The Twitch simulcasting guidelines explicitly forbid the use of third-party services that combine chat activity from other platforms onto your Twitch stream. This restriction ensures the Twitch community feels included and is not viewing a merged chat that prioritizes another platform.
The most effective strategy involves using a separate monitor to display the chat feeds from all platforms simultaneously. While you cannot merge them into a single overlay on Twitch, you can use software that aggregates them for your view, allowing you to manually respond to messages from all communities. Utilizing dedicated moderators on each platform is beneficial to help filter out spam and forward relevant comments. Setting clear expectations with your audience, such as prioritizing the Twitch chat for live interaction while occasionally checking others, helps manage viewer expectations.
Technical Setup and Software for Multistreaming
Successfully multistreaming requires the right software and sufficient hardware to handle the increased load. Dedicated multistreaming services like Restream and StreamYard simplify the process by ingesting a single video stream and distributing it to multiple destinations. This approach is preferred because it only uses your internet upload bandwidth once, offloading the processing to the service provider.
Alternatively, advanced users can use free OBS Studio plugins, such as the Multiple RTMP Output plugin, which allows a single instance of OBS to send streams to different locations. This method requires significantly more local processing power and internet speed. For a high-quality 1080p at 60 frames-per-second stream to multiple platforms, a stable upload speed of at least 20 megabits per second is recommended. A modern CPU with a dedicated hardware encoder, such as NVIDIA’s NVENC or AMD’s AMF, is necessary to ensure smooth performance without overburdening the system’s main processor.