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YouTube to Acquire Videogame-Streaming Service Twitch for $1 Billion?

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Re: YouTube to Acquire Videogame-Streaming Service Twitch for $1 Billion?

#171

Post by chongli »

Afforess wrote: post #53
mikeleeorg wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IF this is true, I would think a lot of due diligence and legal counsel was discussed before moving forward. Especially with a deal this size. And if that's the case, perhaps YouTube would be adopting Twitch's less restrictive copyright policies. Because otherwise, what else would YouTube get out of Twitch?

Ha. Your naiveté is cute. This deal is all about buying out the competition. It's not about streaming. Youtube could have streaming if they wanted to, without the 1B.

If people aren't able to continue streaming their favourite game on Twitch after the acquisition, they will go somewhere else and Youtube will have gained nothing from the deal. It makes absolutely zero sense to buy out a competitor just to drive all their users to a different competitor.

Re: YouTube to Acquire Videogame-Streaming Service Twitch for $1 Billion?

#172

Post by shanelja »

minimaxir wrote: post #5

It's worth noting that Twitch partially became popular because it wasn't YouTube , and gamers could stream without content restrictions (e.g. copyright and region) Miraculously, this could end up making YouTube comments even worse .

I agree.

I play an MMORPG called Runescape which has millions of players, I've been playing it since I was 12 and now I'm 21. I stream on Twitch once every few days and frequently have 1,000+ people watching me, subscribing, following and most importably putting eyeballs on Twitch's adverts (which is one of the largest concurrent none-featured community.)

If this happens I lose my anonymity (because Google+) which protects my account details from being stolen. If this happens I lose the ability to stream while playing music in the background, my followers even have the ability to request songs during the stream using an automated service, where does this leave me with regards to copyright then?

Even worse than this though is that if this happens, Google will in some way fundamentally change a service which I and my followers love to use - a service which they don't understand.

I speak for myself as a well known member of this community: If Google buys Twitch, Twitch will die.

This video basically (and very explosively) explains the current thinking of Twitch users: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loeFYdbvrZM (turn down your sound)

Re: YouTube to Acquire Videogame-Streaming Service Twitch for $1 Billion?

#173

Post by lclarkmichalek »

onewaystreet wrote: post #92
minimaxir wrote: post #5

It's worth noting that Twitch partially became popular because it wasn't YouTube , and gamers could stream without content restrictions (e.g. copyright and region) Miraculously, this could end up making YouTube comments even worse .

YouTube recently launched a new streaming platform. I don't think it has those restrictions anymore. Their problem has been that they haven't been able to compete with Twitch's community.

Community is a strong word for that shit hole GreyFaceGreyFace

Re: YouTube to Acquire Videogame-Streaming Service Twitch for $1 Billion?

#174

Post by mikeleeorg »

Afforess wrote: post #53
mikeleeorg wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IF this is true, I would think a lot of due diligence and legal counsel was discussed before moving forward. Especially with a deal this size. And if that's the case, perhaps YouTube would be adopting Twitch's less restrictive copyright policies. Because otherwise, what else would YouTube get out of Twitch?

Ha. Your naiveté is cute. This deal is all about buying out the competition. It's not about streaming. Youtube could have streaming if they wanted to, without the 1B.

I was thinking more of the market and audience of Twitch. Technology is not a barrier for Google/YouTube. And they could certainly vie for the Twitch audience with a similar product. But Twitch definitely has a head start.

So whether it be for removing a competitor and/or entering a new market, my point is I think a company like Google would have considered copyright issues before doing something like this.

Re: YouTube to Acquire Videogame-Streaming Service Twitch for $1 Billion?

#175

Post by [deleted] »

Thaxll wrote: post #65
smoyer wrote: post #14

My son watches a lot of Starcraft tournaments on Twitch and his immediate response was that YouTube might actually improve the infrastructure so that they could handle streaming to everyone who wants to watch.

Their infrastructure is good enough, they're able to stream to 180k+ viewers in HD without problems.

[deleted]

Re: YouTube to Acquire Videogame-Streaming Service Twitch for $1 Billion?

#177

Post by Maarten88 »

tomasien wrote: post #160
Maarten88 wrote: post #26

Compared to recent other aquisitions, 1 billion somehow seems like a bargain. Twitch has clear potential to play an important role in the future in TV and entertainment. Compare that to i.e. Snapchat...

I agree actually. I hate it when people compare things to Snapchat like Snapchat is silly (it's not) but Twitch could be HUGE. Like huge huge huge.

That's what I mean. It's not a stretch to imagine average people watching Twitch for hours every day, and happily paying for it. And (e)Sports organizers using Twitch to stream/monetize their events worldwide, bypassing the networks.

There is, of course, that network neutrality issue in the US.

Re: YouTube to Acquire Videogame-Streaming Service Twitch for $1 Billion?

#178

Post by baddox »

azth wrote: post #31
minimaxir wrote: post #5

It's worth noting that Twitch partially became popular because it wasn't YouTube , and gamers could stream without content restrictions (e.g. copyright and region) Miraculously, this could end up making YouTube comments even worse .

Well, looks like it's time to start another competitor :)

At least in the Starcraft II scene, Azubu seems to be the new player on the block. They must have some connections or be making some sweet deals, because in a relatively short time they've got several well known streamers using them.

Re: YouTube to Acquire Videogame-Streaming Service Twitch for $1 Billion?

#179

Post by Ygg2 »

mikeleeorg wrote: post #17
jds375 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I do see this being an excellent acquisition for YouTube if true, I do agree. I don't see how YouTube could reconcile it's copyright stance with how Twitch fundamentally works.

IF this is true, I would think a lot of due diligence and legal counsel was discussed before moving forward. Especially with a deal this size. And if that's the case, perhaps YouTube would be adopting Twitch's less restrictive copyright policies. Because otherwise, what else would YouTube get out of Twitch?

Maybe. And maybe RIAA and MPAA would change their stance on DRM and abolish DMCA.

And maybe Elephants will sprout rocket jets and fly into the dark side of Pluto.

Re: YouTube to Acquire Videogame-Streaming Service Twitch for $1 Billion?

#180

Post by yread »

shanelja wrote: post #172
minimaxir wrote: post #5

It's worth noting that Twitch partially became popular because it wasn't YouTube , and gamers could stream without content restrictions (e.g. copyright and region) Miraculously, this could end up making YouTube comments even worse .

I agree. I play an MMORPG called Runescape which has millions of players, I've been playing it since I was 12 and now I'm 21. I stream on Twitch once every few days and frequently have 1,000+ people watching me, subscribing, following and most importably putting eyeballs on Twitch's adverts (which is one of the largest concurrent none-featured community.) If this happens I lose my anonymity (because Google+) which pr…

Why do you have to use copyrighted background music for streaming of a game?
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