Twitter's new feature helps Periscope stars get tipped

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Periscope, a live-streaming app acquired by Twitter in 2015, announced its new feature "Super Hearts" on Wednesday in order to attract the best live video content.

Viewers of Periscope will now be able to tip their favorite broadcasters and performers by sending them virtual hearts that the user paid for with real cash. For sending hearts, viewers need to purchase "Periscope Coins" from the App Store or Play Store.

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As rewards, talents who receive hearts valued at about 175 US dollars will be designated as "Super Broadcasters" and be able to cash out the money as earnings, according to the company. After standard fees from in-app purchases and payment processing, broadcasters will receive around 70 percent of the remaining value.

The new function is only open to users in the United States for now, but Periscope says that the program will expand to other countries eventually.

“The spirit, and the goal, is for all broadcasters to be able to do this,” said Sara Haider, director of software engineering at Periscope.

Periscope aims to attract more broadcasters to the platform while giving Twitter a highly profitable new revenue stream through Super Hearts.

Super Chat. /YouTube Photo

As a competitor to Periscope, YouTube launched a similar feature "Super Chat" this January to help live streamers make revenue when they go live. This service allows viewers to pay to pin a comment on live streams. Paid comments will be highlighted in various colors to help live streamers notice them.