Google's $1 billion Twitch acquisition tipped by new sources

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A new report claims that Google is to purchase video game streaming service Twitch as part of a $1 billion deal.

GameBeat cites "sources familiar with the matter" as claiming the deal has been agreed upon and is to be headed up by Google's YouTube division.

This backs up a previous report in May which, also citing anonymous sources, suggested that the Google subsidiary will purchase Twitch in an "all-cash" deal and that the announcement is expected to be made imminently.

Both YouTube and Twitch have declined to comment on the reports.

Twitch is popular video streaming platform that allows players to broadcast themselves and their gameplay over the internet. The company has seen massive success over the past few years, with Sony and Microsoft opting to integrate Twitch streaming and viewing functionality natively into the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

In its first week of streaming the Xbox One Twitch app hosted over 108,000 unique broadcasters, accounted for 22 per cent of the game streaming service's total broadcaster base. In December 2013, following the PlayStation 4's launch, 20 per cent of all Twitch streamers were broadcasting from PS4 systems.

In May 2013, Twitch reported its unique monthly viewership was over 34 million users. In addition to platform holders, the company has entered into partnerships with a number of the industry's biggest publishers including Ubisoft, EA, Activision and Sony Online Entertainment.



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Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/472332/googles-1-billion-twitch-acquisition-tipped-by-new-sources/

Comments

"Google's $1 billion Twitch acquisition tipped by new sources" :: Login/Create an Account :: 62 comments

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EffectivePosted:

I've never used twitch before but id like the try it out

PryzelPosted:

Hope they make it better not worse...

ItalianPosted:

Odin
Italian Personally I hate and love Google. They have a ton of money so they do buy companies that have potential yet are really small so they can't grow. They also buy good companies and I feel ruin them all for money, but I mean that is why Google is Google. When they bought YouTube and brought pop up ads that was annoying, now they have video ads before the videos. And occasionally ads in-between videos which is extremely annoying. Twitch already has ads, I hope that Twitches ads actually get improved because I sometimes get 5-30sec ads before the stream. Also more in-between. What I hope not to happen is that in the future Twitch loses partnership with Sony and Microsoft. Google will one day try and get into the console market and build their own console and when that happens they will block partnership with their competition, Sony, Microsoft, etc. Just as how YouTube has no official app for Windows Phone because Google doesn't want to help Microsoft. Or how Facebook still hasn't made an official Facebook app on a Windows Phone because they don't want to help Windows.


I can't believe you are complaining about ads. How else is Google supposed to make revenue, or even pay the sponsered Youtubers? Sure they've got a lot of money coming in from every other project they have, but they're a company and companies always do what will make them the most money. And if you hate ads that much go download AdBlock Plus for chrome/FF/IE


Lol, everyone hates ads. Simple. Also, ads are fine to me if they don't block content. When I have to watch a 30 second ad before my content I believe that is unneeded. An ad pop up is fine with me. When millions of people are on the website Im pretty sure they get money either way.

OdinPosted:

Italian Personally I hate and love Google. They have a ton of money so they do buy companies that have potential yet are really small so they can't grow. They also buy good companies and I feel ruin them all for money, but I mean that is why Google is Google. When they bought YouTube and brought pop up ads that was annoying, now they have video ads before the videos. And occasionally ads in-between videos which is extremely annoying. Twitch already has ads, I hope that Twitches ads actually get improved because I sometimes get 5-30sec ads before the stream. Also more in-between. What I hope not to happen is that in the future Twitch loses partnership with Sony and Microsoft. Google will one day try and get into the console market and build their own console and when that happens they will block partnership with their competition, Sony, Microsoft, etc. Just as how YouTube has no official app for Windows Phone because Google doesn't want to help Microsoft. Or how Facebook still hasn't made an official Facebook app on a Windows Phone because they don't want to help Windows.


I can't believe you are complaining about ads. How else is Google supposed to make revenue, or even pay the sponsered Youtubers? Sure they've got a lot of money coming in from every other project they have, but they're a company and companies always do what will make them the most money. And if you hate ads that much go download AdBlock Plus for chrome/FF/IE

ItalianPosted:

Personally I hate and love Google. They have a ton of money so they do buy companies that have potential yet are really small so they can't grow. They also buy good companies and I feel ruin them all for money, but I mean that is why Google is Google. When they bought YouTube and brought pop up ads that was annoying, now they have video ads before the videos. And occasionally ads in-between videos which is extremely annoying. Twitch already has ads, I hope that Twitches ads actually get improved because I sometimes get 5-30sec ads before the stream. Also more in-between. What I hope not to happen is that in the future Twitch loses partnership with Sony and Microsoft. Google will one day try and get into the console market and build their own console and when that happens they will block partnership with their competition, Sony, Microsoft, etc. Just as how YouTube has no official app for Windows Phone because Google doesn't want to help Microsoft. Or how Facebook still hasn't made an official Facebook app on a Windows Phone because they don't want to help Windows.

SnotPosted:

Yet again more hate on Google. The only thing I dislike was the change they bought to the YouTube comment system. Google is one of the most powerful companies in the world, personally I think this is good news for Twitch and the viewers.

R4TTYPosted:

Twitch will be crap now google owns it

TomPosted:

If they buy it, they better make it better not worse.

KixaPosted:

I heard of this before but i don't think google buying twitch is a good idea.

AustinPosted:

Google loves to buy gaming websites. They ruined yourube( in my opinion) and now they're gonna ruin twitch

Wonderful