Whether you are a streamer or just a viewer, the recent addition of Twitch channel points will have been a welcome one. It is a great way for streamers to reward the most loyal fans on their channel without forcing them to pay a subscription.
It may seem to fly in the face of users who want to financially support their favourite streamers but some of the top Fortnite players, like Ninja, already make so much money from advertising and sponsorship deals that they may not require a ton of paid subscribers on their channel.
It is also a way of advertising the perks that come with paid subscriptions. The smaller rewards from Twitch channel points show off the perks that subscribers have 24/7 access to. This is available to all partners and affiliates, it allows them to customize built-in, automated rewards or set up unique rewards specific to their channel.
How to earn Twitch channel points and the current rates
You can earn Twitch channel points by watching your favourite best Twitch streamers. If they are enrolled in the program, you will periodically earn points related to the rates set out below. You will also get the ability to earn extra points by keeping up a watch streak on the same channel.
- Watching – Non-subscribed viewers receive points each 5 mins of live watch time. – +10
- Active watching – Non-subscriber viewers receive points each 15 mins of live watch time. (Click to redeem) – +50
- Participating in a Raid – Viewers receive points for joining a raid. – +250
- Follow – Viewers receive points upon new follow. These points can be earned only once. – +300
- Watch Streak 2 – Viewers receive points for returning for 2 consecutive streams. Each stream must be at least 10 minutes long and it must have been at least 30 minutes since the last stream ended. – +300
- Watch Streak 3 – Viewers receive points for returning for 3 consecutive streams. Each stream must be at least 10 minutes long and it must have been at least 30 minutes since the last stream ended. – +350
- Watch Streak 4 – Viewers receive points for returning for 4 consecutive streams. Each stream must be at least 10 minutes long and it must have been at least 30 minutes since the last stream ended. – +400
- Watch Streak 5+ – Viewers receive points for returning for 5 consecutive streams. Each stream must be at least 10 minutes long and it must have been at least 30 minutes since the last stream ended. – +450
- 1st Cheer– Viewers receive points for their first Cheer on the channel per 30 days. Anonymous cheering will not earn points. – +350
- 1st Subscription Gift – Viewers receive points for gifting their first subscription on the channel per 30 days. Anonymous sub gifting will not earn points. – +500
How to redeem Twitch channel points
You can use your Twitch channel points by redeeming them on channel rewards that the streamer has enabled or added themselves. The amount of Channel Points required per reward may vary by channel, it is up to the streamer to choose the prices of each reward.
Once you have enough points and want to redeem them, you can click the Channel Point icon at the bottom left of the chat window. This will open a box with the reward options for your chosen channel and the respective amount of Channel Points required to redeem the reward. Then you simply pay for the reward with your channel points and the total will be deducted from your Twitch channel point balance.
Twitch channel points for streamers
In order to use Twitch channel points on your stream, you must be either a partner or an affiliate. Once you have met those requirements, you can opt in to the program in the Creator Dashboard. If you want to disable the feature completely you can toggle the Enable Channel Points option off.
You can change or disable any built-in, automated rewards like allowing a user to choose an emote they wish to unlock or highlight a message in chat. You can also create your own awards like, giving the redeemer a shoutout, letting them join your next game, or letting them choose who you host next.
To do this, you need to go to the Manage Rewards section under Channel Points in the Creator Dashboard. Once there you will see an option to Add New Custom Reward. There are plenty of options available to you, you can set the image, the text, the price, and even how many times the reward can be redeemed per stream.
This could be a new fad or a great new way to interact with streamers and the streaming audience, like Twitch betting. Either way, it is best if fans and streamers alike understand the ins and outs of the new feature.
