Every new streamer works towards Affiliate status on Twitch, as it means their streams can be monetized.
Earnings might be low at the start but at least it means you’re earning something. The next step, is to become a Twitch partner.
But, it is possible to lose affiliate status under certain circumstances.
Gaining affiliate status is one thing, keeping it is another. In this helpful guide we explain how streamers can keep their status and what things can happen which can lead to losing Twitch affiliate.
Are you worried about losing your affiliate status?
If you have already lost it, then we have a guide at the bottom to help you get it back. But, if you are worried about losing it then unless you are doing something that is breaking the ToS then don’t.
Streamers losing affiliate status is rare as long as they haven’t vanished off the face of the earth.
Becoming Twitch affiliate speed guide:
To become Twitch Affiliate you need to:
- Reach 50 Followers.
- Stream for 8 hours.
- Stream on 7 different days.
- Have an average of 3 viewers.
To qualify for the Affiliate Program, you must simultaneously meet all four requirements over a 30-day period.
From Twitch FAQs
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5 Ways You Can Lose Twitch Affiliate Status
The following reasons why you would lose affiliate status are below, ordered from most common to least common. Note: losing affiliate status in general is uncommon.
Breaking terms of service
Breaking Twitch’s long and detailed terms of service during online or even offline can lose you affiliate status and maybe even the whole account. It depends on the type of violation.
Specifically, Twitch affiliate allows monetisation through adverts and there are certain violations of the ToS which could harm the brand who’s adverts are being shown during your stream.
Imagine a streamer who has never sworn before, with family friendly content, suddenly swearing until their blue in the face, rambling about conspiracy theories in between adverts for Disney+? Not good.
Second, Twitch has their ToS for a reason and you become an affiliate on the basis of those ToS, if you break them then you’re reneging on the deal.
If you’re new to Twitch it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the basic do’s and don’t’s before you really start to grow and then run into trouble. Breaking ToS could also mean losing partnership, too.
Not earning enough
Once you become an affiliate you do not have to achieve the same objectives to keep it, it’s yours. However, you do need to earn at least $100 every 12 months to keep it.
To earn the $100, you can be given bits, ad revenue or tiered subscriptions. If your followers never grow, or you lose subscriptions this may be a possibility.
The most likely cause of losing Twitch affiliate status due to low earnings is actually being inactive.
However, regular streamers should not struggle to earn $100 in 12 months so this is rare.
Being inactive
Being substantially inactive (Twitch do not go into more details than this word) can cause streamers to be dropped from the affiliate program. However, it is treated on a case by case basis.
12 consecutive months is usually the period of time that is often mention because it is tied with income when in reality substantially inactive can be more.
See below the wording Twitch HQ use – “at least 12 months”. At least meaning a minimum.
If at any time there has been no substantial activity on your Program account for at least twelve consecutive months, and you have not earned at least $100 in Program Fees during that twelve month period, we may close your inactive account and terminate this Agreement.
Twitch.tv
Here’s some example scenarios to give some context for you, if this is the point you’re most worried about:
Streamer A has been live for an average of 6 hours for 3 days a week, earning $1,200 in the process. Streamer A then becomes inactive for 14 months. As Streamer A earned a decent amount during their active phase, did not brake the ToS at any point it is unlikely that affiliate status would be taken away.
Streamer B became an affiliate and then failed to grow and idled for 12 months earning $80. A high likelihood of having affiliate status revoked.
Streaming on another platform
Streamers who are not affiliates or partners are entitled to stream on any platform they want, be it YouTube, Mixer, Twitch or a mix of all 3. Twitch partners have unique contracts which may or may not allow it. Affiliates have some leeway.
Multi-streaming is allowed, but not simultaneously – this means while you are live on Twitch you can’t be live somewhere else (and expect to keep affiliate status).
Before becoming an affiliate multi-streaming/cross-streaming can be a great way to get started and grow, but once you become an affiliate it will have to stop, which can be tricky if the other platforms are doing equally well (or even better) than your Twitch account.
It’s worth mentioning that this is streaming – you can upload streaming clips and VODs to other platforms.
Mutually agreeing to leave the program
You can leave the affiliate program at any time with written notice. Streamer may decide to do this because they want to:
- Concentrate on a different platform instead – this is a sensible option as you don’t want to burn bridges and ‘lose’ affiliate. You may want to come back one day.
- To stop ads from showing to your viewers (some streamers may earn money other ways and ads was never a big chunk)
Can you get Twitch affiliate back after you lose it?
If you lose your affiliate status amicably or ‘without force’ then you can re-apply with a good chance of getting it back as long as you are able to meet the original requirements again. Examples being, low income, inactivity or by asking to be removed.
However, if you lose affiliate due to breaking the ToS then it is unlikely and will be judged on a case by case basis.
I lost my Twitch affiliate status – what do I do?
The firs step is to carefully read the email from Twitch on the reasons and then take remedial action before re applying.
Don’t write an angry email to them, be rational and calm.
Write down a constructive email in a word processor, addressing each point, before re applying to get it back.
