Setting Up Your Kick Stream for Beginners
In recent years, live streaming has become increasingly popular on various online platforms. When it comes to live streaming, Twitch has been a favorite go-to platform for many. However, the rise of Kick has started to challenge that dominance. In this article, we will explore Kick from top to bottom and help you decide if this platform is worth giving a try.
What is Kick streaming?
Kick is a live streaming platform that has taken the internet by storm. Being a new platform, Kick presents an excellent opportunity for aspiring streamers who are just starting out. Kick positions itself as a creator-friendly site, offering an ideal launchpad for new creators. As the platform continues to expand, it brings the potential for growing viewership alongside it, benefiting these creators in reaching a wider audience.
Kick vs. Twitch
Twitch, as the most established live streaming platform, benefits from its long history and the support of Amazon, one of the world's largest companies. They offer comprehensive tools and engagement features, ensuring a top-notch streaming experience. However, Twitch has its flaws, such as poor sub-splits, where streamers receive only 50% of subscription revenue, and the platform has become overcrowded with streamers, making it difficult for newcomers to gain visibility. Inconsistent moderation policies and excessive ads have also driven away some streamers and viewers.
On the other hand, Kick, a newer streaming platform, focuses on providing an excellent experience for streamers. It offers a generous 95% / 5% sub-split, no ads during streams, and actively involved owners who engage with streamers on the platform. Many streamers have migrated from Twitch to Kick, attracted by the lack of ads and reduced competition. However, being a new platform poses uncertainties about its long-term sustainability. Some concerns include poor content moderation, Kick's reliance on Amazon's streaming tech (which they pay for), and being owned by Stake, a gambling company, which may deter some individuals who oppose gambling.
While Twitch currently appears to be the safer choice due to its established status, other streaming platforms are gaining popularity, and the landscape may change. Kick presents a promising alternative, but its future remains uncertain. Several streaming platforms have emerged and eventually shut down, highlighting the risk of building an audience on a platform that may cease operations. Content creators need to consider the potential consequences if the platform they rely on disappears.
Ultimately, the choice between Twitch and Kick depends on various factors, including a streamer's goals, preferences, and risk tolerance. Streamers may prioritize Twitch's stability, extensive features, and large audience, while others may opt for Kick's more favorable revenue split, lack of ads, and less saturated competition. However, it's essential for streamers to carefully assess the pros and cons of each platform and consider the potential long-term viability before committing to a specific streaming platform.
How to go live on Kick
To go live on Kick you'll need a live streaming software such as Streamlabs or OBS Studio. We’ll explain how to go live on Kick using OBS.
Part 1: Create your Kick channel
Visit kick.com and create an account if you haven't done so already.
Click on your profile avatar located in the top-right corner, then select "Creator Dashboard."
In the Creator Dashboard, navigate to the left side and click on the "Settings" tab. Then, click on "Stream Key."
Scroll down until you find your Stream URL and Stream Key. Make sure to copy your Stream URL.
Step 2 - Adding your Kick Stream Key to OBS
Here's how you can add your stream key and stream URL to OBS:
Open OBS Studio.
Click on "File."
Select "Settings."
Choose "Stream."
Change the service to "Custom..."
Paste the "Server" URL from your Kick Settings Page into the appropriate field.
Paste the "Stream Key" from your Kick Settings Page into the appropriate field.
Press "Apply."
Step 3 - Setting your Title and Category
Now that you've saved all your streaming settings, let's head over to your Kick Creator Dashboard to set your Stream Title and Category:
Go back to your Creator Dashboard on Kick.
Click on "Edit Stream info."
Set your desired Stream Title and Category.
Press "Save."
Step 5 - Going Live
You are now ready to start your live stream! Simply press the "Start Streaming" button from your OBS software.
Step 6 - Ending your Stream
To end your live stream, click the "Stop Streaming" button in your OBS software. Kick will display an offline banner to your viewers, and your replay will be saved to your channel page.
In conclusion, if you're looking for a platform to start streaming on, Kick is definitely worth considering. With its growing audience and monetization system, Kick offers a unique and exciting streaming experience. So what are you waiting for? Give Kick a try and start your live streaming journey today!