The ability to stream content in 2021 ranges across multiple genres, activities, and platforms. Fans have never had so much access to content at one time, and streamers have found innovative ways to create and produce on new services. This includes a rising popularity in the production of livestreaming video content oncompeting sites like YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook Gaming. While this mainly started with video games, streaming has evolved into a way for all kinds of artists and creators to produce new and interesting media, that can be accessed by audiences all over the world. With all the platforms out there to stream on, it can be hard to figure out which is best.
There are many services on which content creators can go live, but the two most popular are Twitch and YouTube. YouTube has always had a loyal base, as it served as the main online video platform for quite some time. However, it wasn’t until2015 that YouTube would launch YouTube Gamingto compete with Twitch’s supremacy on the game streaming market. In the six years since, streaming has only grown, and other brands have tried to enter the livestream gaming market with little to no avail. Currently, it’s a battle between the two powerhouses, but one has to wonder where success lies for creators.
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Twitch vs. YouTube, Side-by-Side
Twitch was launched in 2011 and primarily focused itself around livestream gaming and gaming culture. It quickly proved to be a popular idea, as the service would grow to 45 million unique viewers in 2013. This meteoric rise made Twitch one of the leaders in peak internet traffic in the United States in 2014. Twitch allows players to connect to their specific channel through a streaming app and their unique Stream Key. Creators can customize their stream via various livestream softwareas well as on Twitch’s Creator Dashboard. If streamers gain enough viewership, there’s options for content creators to make money on the platform through ads and subscriptions.
YouTube Gaming, as previously mentioned, was launched when it became apparent that Twitch’s popularity wasn’t going anywhere. As the cornerstone of long-form video content on the internet, YouTube also decided to throw its hat in the ring. Monetization of YouTube Gaming livestreams comes from similar ad systems to Twitch: with pre-roll ads, mid-roll ads, as well as display and overlay ads. Streaming on YouTube also gives the added benefit of having an audience be a few clicks away from a backlog of videos, taking advantage of YouTube’s proven systems. According toYouTube Gaming’s 2020 stats, it was a good year for the streaming service.
Which Streaming Service To Use
While creators can’t be monetized if they stream to both services at once, they can still change up which sites they use and get the best of both worlds. Each site has its benefits and communities, and creating good content will always get noticed in due time. What is most important is to be consistent and give viewers a unique experience they couldn’t find on any other platform.
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