[ALL] Amazon Buys Twitch

[MrBill]

It appears that YouTube (Google) is going to acquire Twitch for $1B in cash. This is likely good for the majority owners of Twitch but I'm not so sure about gamers. There are concerns that there will be even more ads now on Twitch and that Google's draconian copyright policies will bleed over to the new Twitch.

What do you think?

Report: YouTube to acquire Twitch for $1 billion
Brett Molina, 6:42 p.m. EDT May 18, 2014

Google-owned video service YouTube may be on the verge of a major acquisition.

Variety reports YouTube will acquire Twitch, the video game streaming service that surged in popularity with the launch of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, for $1 billion.

The report, which cites "sources familiar with the pact," is an all-cash offer and will be announced imminently.

Twitch declined comment to USA Today on the report.

The service allows video game players to stream live action from their devices. Initially available on PC, Twitch launched apps for the PS4 and Xbox One video game consoles that let users directly broadcast their gameplay from the device.

Twitch claims about 45 million visitors to its site each month.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @bam923.

 

[JayDizzle]

Until I see Google and Twitch comment officially on the matter themselves, I'm chalking this up to hearsay.

"According to Sources" just means you're too chickenshit to put a name to a quote OR you're lying to build up a whopper of a story to sell page views.

 

[buckeye]

Ughh.... Guess we will see how it shakes out.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

 

[Swarley]

I fucking hate YouTube and them asking every fucking time to link Google and YouTube, and them not really giving you the option to say no, then everything is fucked up until you can go back in and unlink everything. Pisses me off that they do this like every damn day. If they make the same changes to Twitch, I'll be pissed.

It'll give Twitch the extra stability that it needs, but just don't try to shove shitty Google+ down our throats like have been with YouTube.

 

[padman59]

Copyright claims and channel monetization are going to be the primary issues people will have. If this happens, I really hope Google doesn't do something like running archived Twitch video through their content ID system. I would have put more stream highlights on my YouTube channel if a lot of them submitted didn't have copyright claims automatically attached to them for shit like a song playing in the game's background for a few seconds.

 

[Sharkweather]

Bless you Azubu, our savior.

(Pretty sure Azubu is just e-sports though, so this might end up sucking for the majority of you)

 

[MrBill]

Looks like Microsoft was also trying to buy Twitch according to a person familiar with the deal-

http://www.theverge.com/2014/5/18/5729762/twitch-youtube-acquisition-report

Microsoft and others have made serious approaches to Twitch, said the person, but YouTube was deemed the better fit. It’s unlikely that the gamer-friendly Twitch would have wanted any part of a deal that would tie the service to Xbox, as it’s embedded in Sony’s rival PlayStation console as well. A source familiar with the deal says that Twitch likely would have rejected a billion dollar offer from other companies, but was willing to accept it as part of a partnership with YouTube.

 

[Derrville]

I just started broadcasting Amazing Spiderman 2, too.

 

[CCBrink]

Google wins

 

[Houston]

:dead: :dead: :dead:

 

[Handleit_44]

 

[MrBill]

Looks like the earlier rumors are true :yep:

Google’s $1B purchase of Twitch confirmed — joins YouTube for new video empire

Google has signed a deal to buy game-livestreaming firm Twitch for $1 billion, confirmed sources familiar with the matter.

We don’t know everything about this deal, such as when it will be announced and the exact purchase price. We do know that Twitch investors who participated in past rounds are pleased that they will be getting significant returns that are multiple times the amount they originally invested. The deal underscores the value of live Internet streaming and the rise of competitive gaming as a spectator sport — something that draws millions of viewers, can offer prize pools that surpass pro golf’s marquee events, and provides a multibillion dollar opportunity for advertisers.

Google and Twitch declined comment. Both companies happen to be speaking at our GamesBeat 2014 event in September. This deal was first cited by unnamed sources from Variety said back in May that Google had made an all-cash offer and that the deal could be announced soon.

Google’s YouTube division is reportedly in charge of the acquisition, which would represent a significant transformation of YouTube’s business. Google acquired YouTube in 2006 for $1.65 billion.

 

[JayDizzle]

Welp.

This is certainly going to get interesting in the coming days.

 

[krulmichael]

 

[number_55]

:robryan:

 

[dave]

If I can sell Viagra while sharing a Madden loss, I'm ok with that.

 

[OnlyOneBeerLeft]

Idk what Ustream is like... will it be able to handle the masses switching over when their streams get cut?

 

[CCBrink]

Everyone overreacting :yao:

 

[OnlyOneBeerLeft]

Everyone overreacting :yao:

:denzel:

 

[CCBrink]

Just got this in an email. Everyone should be able to breathe a little easier now :yao: Looks like restricting copywrited content was in the plans for twitch all along.

Starting today, Twitch will be implementing technology intended to help broadcasters avoid the storage of videos containing unauthorized third-party audio. We respect the rights of copyright owners, and are voluntarily undertaking this effort to help protect both our broadcasters and copyright owners.

What Is Audio Recognition?

We’ve partnered with Audible Magic, which works closely with the recorded music industry, to scan past and future VODs for music owned or controlled by clients of Audible Magic. This includes in-game and ambient music. When music in the Audible Magic database is detected (“Flagged Content”), the affected portion of the VOD will be muted and volume controls for that VOD will be turned off. Additionally, past broadcasts and highlights with Flagged Content are exportable but will remain muted.

The Audible Magic technology will scan for third-party music in 30 minute blocks -- if Audible Magic does not detect its clients’ music, that portion of the VOD will not be muted. If third party audio is detected anywhere in the 30-minute scanned block, the entire 30 minutes will be muted.

How It Works: Scanning VODs Only

Audio Recognition will only be run against audio in VODs. We are not scanning live broadcasts and there is no automated takedown of live content.

Flagged Content will display an on-screen notification informing viewers that content owned or controlled by a third-party has been identified. The progress bar will also be red for the duration of the muted section.


Please note that Audio Recognition is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate. It may return false positives or miss content from copyright owners who do not work with Audible Magic. If you wish to include music in your VODs, please remember that you are responsible for clearing all such rights (this includes ambient music that may be playing in the background while you are broadcasting). If you would like to include free-to-use music in your VODs, there are a variety of resources available to you, including:
Creative Commons
Jamendo
SongFreedom
Broadcaster & Copyright Owner Appeals

If you believe that your video has been flagged improperly and that you have cleared the rights to all of the sound recordings in your uploaded video, then we will consider unmuting your video if you send us a counter-notification that is compliant with the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”).

Any copyright owner that believes that any of their content is used in any live broadcasts or VOD without authorization should submit a notification of claimed infringement to Twitch pursuant to our Terms of Service. If you are the legal owner of copyrighted music that you would like to protect via Audible Magic’s technology, visit AudibleMagic.com.

Twitch has partnered with Audible Magic without waiving any rights or defenses available to it under law. Twitch is not obligated to filter content stored on the Twitch platform by its users and assumes no liability for the actions of its users notwithstanding the implementation of the Audible Magic technology. Twitch reserves the right to stop filtering audio content in VODs in its sole discretion at any time and without liability to any third-party, subject only to any contractual obligations.