YouTube Ready To Create New Service That Rivals Twitch
The video-sharing Goliath could be set to take a step towards livestreaming and eSports.
The Daily Dot are reporting that YouTube are planning to jump on the livestreaming and eSports bandwagon by creating a service of their own called 'YouTube Live'. It's claimed the company have hired approximately 50 of the world's finest engineers to ensure it runs as smoothly as possible. YouTube Live would go toe-to-toe with Twitch, who were bought out by Amazon in 2014 for an estimated sum of £650 million. At one point, it seemed like Google - who own YouTube - were going to snap up Twitch for themselves but the deal collapsed. Now, insider sources have told the Daily Dot that YouTube are ready and an official announcement could come at E3 in June. According to one individual, the timing is right because "Google doesn't want to be too far behind in the arms race. Another added:
Gaming and eSports in particular are going to be a big driving force for the new-look YouTube Live. Therell be huge opportunities for established streamers and organizations soon and I would say that the record numbers of eSports viewers are only going to grow when Google start promoting and partnering with these events.This isn't YouTube's first soiree into live streaming; they experimented with the idea in 2010, broadcasting a U2 concert along with Indian Premier League cricket matches but the project was quietly sidelined for a rainy day. But no one can deny YouTube's sheer size and resources when it comes to video sharing so it'd be a highly interesting battle between them and Twitch, backed up by their owners' vast wealth. YouTube also plays host to some of the biggest gaming personalities in the world, who have become celebrities in their own right. It's possible that people like Pewdiepie, KSI and The Syndicate Project could be tempted into doing live shows, attracting the millions of people who hang on their every word. Either way, Selina Kyle sums the situation up nicely - except replace Bruce Wayne with Emmett Shear.
