Many content creators and social media influencers are excited about YouTube's new monetization tool.
Beginning on Wednesday, the video sharing platform YouTube is launching gifted membership in beta to select channels. With this, both fans and creators will have the ability to gift each other with paid channel subscriptions.
The gifted subscriptions have been part of Twitch, YouTube Gaming's main competition. This is seen by many streamers as an easy way to generate revenue while building their community at the same time.
YouTube took some time to release this much-awaited feature in its platform. But finally, YouTube Japan examined gifted memberships feature earlier this year for a select number of channels, as per Engadget. It will be available to all YouTube Gaming users in the U.S. and U.K.
YouTube Plans To Expand Memberships Gifting Beta Over the Next Several Months
YouTube said that the memberships gifting beta will be available to a "small group of creators" to start, but will eventually, be expanded to more "over the next several months."
According to The Verge, channels interested in trying the feature can fill out this Google Form, but you'll need to satisfy a set of requirements to be eligible.
To start, gifting will only be available for viewers using a desktop browser window. YouTube plans to have allow buying gift memberships on mobile for the feature's full launch.
As a way to prevent harassment, viewers will also have to opt in to be able to receive gifted memberships on a channel.
Gifted memberships will appear in the chat. To allow gifts, you'll have to click a link and then a toggle.
According to YouTube, "With Memberships Gifting, your channel members can buy a set number of channel memberships [5, 10, 20] in a single purchase, that YouTube will 'gift' out to other viewers in your live stream,"
Youtube added that viewers who receive a gift membership get 1 month of access to your channel membership perks like loyalty badges, custom emojis, and more.
Moreover, viewers who receive gift memberships do not pay any charges. Also, as the creator, you receive your usual revenue share from each transaction.
Read Also: YouTube Offers Podcasters Up to $300K to Embrace Video Format
YouTube Gaming Launches Other Twitch-like Features This Year
This year, YouTube Gaming has launched a number of other Twitch-like features including Live Redirects, which allow streamers to send fans to other streams or premieres.
As per Engadget, fans normally pay $4.99 per month for channel memberships. This membership allows them to access user badges, emotes, and other exclusive content by their favorite creators.
Twitch remains the biggest U.S.-based platform for livestreaming. However, in recent years, a number of its high-profile streamers have departed for YouTube Gaming. It is expected that there may be more to follow.
Last month, Bloomberg reported that under a new monetization model by the Amazon-owned platform, Twitch partners will get a smaller cut of revenue from subscriptions, 50% from 70%.
Engadget said that YouTube Gaming takes only 30% of a streamer's revenue from channel subscriptions.
At present, YouTube Gaming doesn't have as many audience as Twitch, but this could easily change if more popular Twitch creators leave for better opportunities.
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