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Report: YouTube Buying Twitch.tv For $1 Billion

Posted by Soulskill on from the day-for-deals dept.

Variety reports that Google's YouTube unit has reached a deal with Twitch.tv to buy the game-streaming service for $1 billion. From the article: "The deal, in an all-cash offer, is expected to be announced imminently, sources said. If completed the acquisition would be the most significant in the history of YouTube, which Google acquired in 2006 for $1.65 billion. ... YouTube is preparing for U.S. regulators to challenge the Twitch deal, according to sources. YouTube is far and away the No. 1 platform for Internet video, serving more than 6 billion hours of video per month to 1 billion users worldwide, and the company expects the Justice Department to take a hard look at whether buying Twitch raises anticompetitive issues in the online-video market."

8 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. So, my bet: by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For mysterious reasons that will be 'explained' only by spokesweasels emitting word salad, this will become the Big Bad Scary antitrust issue of the day, while the rapid consolidation of physical network infrastructure (despite the radically higher barriers to entry) will quietly recede into the background.

  2. TwitchPlaysPokemon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Bummer =/

    This channel has been suspended due to multiple copyright claims from Nintendo of America.

  3. Embrace. Extend. by Snufu · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Extinguish.

  4. Re:All of Twitch is a 'Copyright Violation' by MikeJones8766 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    And then another Twitch will rise in its place.

    Just like the other youtube...o wait.

  5. Wow a fucking billion dollars aint shit today by InsultsByThePound · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Back when I was a kid the last millenium (80-90s), a billion as a lot of money. It was a domain that only Bill Gates and a handful of other chosen few were allowed to occupy. Now every damn internet start up is getting a billion each at least, often in the double digits.

    Shit with absolutely no real world business prospects to justify the price they command. Are we in Internet bubble 2.0?

  6. Re:Why is twitch popular? by epyT-R · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Hell, I don't even get why people watch athletics on tv. Talk about dull. I'd rather play the damn sports casually than just watch it on tv.

  7. Re:Why is twitch popular? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    People watch it for the personalties or banter between streamers.
    Pro tournaments can be fun to watch sometimes. Depending on who is casting they really understand the audience and it isn't always presented in the same style as a super serious 'sports' show.

    People also like to watch and learn, see interesting things that they can try and copy or weird tactics that really only work under certain conditions. Its also nice to see some of the best players in the world thrown off by special tactics.

  8. Re:Twitch is not exactly a money maker by Luckyo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The caveat is pretty hilarious though. "When subscriber base is high".

    How many people can claim a high subscriber base? The entire point of Twitch is that it lets you monetize niche content that won't attract millions.