Twitch

Twitch (Twitch.tv) is an online live streaming video platform with a focus on gaming.

The name Twitch comes from the term twitch gaming, which refers to fast action games that test reflexes, such as first person shooter games. Twitch is part of Twitch Interactive and is a subsidiary of Amazon. The site offers Twitch Prime, the premium version of Twitch, which offers added benefits when a user had an Amazon Prime subscription.

Twitch is popular for streaming of competitive multiplayer games, especially at the professional esports level, and the personal streams of individual players. Similar to other video platforms like YouTube, Twitch offers Partner and Affiliate programs for popular streamers, which shares advertisement revenue with streamers and allows viewers to pay a small fee to subscribe and directly support their favorite channel. Viewers are able to interact live with streamers through designated channel chats and donation systems. Despite hosting a majority of gaming channels, the site does offer other content like streaming TV, music, talk shows and podcasts. Content can be watched as live streams or though video on demand (VoD)

The platform has exclusive deals to broadcast professional tournaments from big game companies like Blizzard. The platform also appeals to performers like musicians, dancers and visual artists through its creative channels. IRL (in real life) categories host content such as talk shows, vlogs or tutorials.

Twitch originally started as a general-purpose video platform site called Justin.tv. Justin.tv was founded by Justin Kan and Emmet Shear in 2007 in San Francisco, California. With several video and streaming categories, the gaming content drew the most streamers and viewers. In 2011, the gaming side of the platform was spun off and renamed as Twitch.tv. As of August 2018, Twitch hosts 2.2 million monthly broadcasters and has 15 million daily active viewers.