Amazon Buying Twitch; Sorry, Google
Amazon announced on Monday that it has agreed to acquire the live video platform Twitch Interactive Inc. The news arrives after Twitch switched corporate names, moving from Justin.tv Inc. to Twitch Interactive, Inc. back in February 2014. Twitch then shut down Justin.tv earlier this month.
So why acquire Twitch? The press release says it all.
“In July, more than 55 million unique visitors viewed more than 15 billion minutes of content on Twitch produced by more than 1 million broadcasters, including individual gamers, pro players, publishers, developers, media outlets, conventions and stadium-filling e-sports organizations,” the press release said.
Twitch CEO Emmett Shear said that both Twitch and Amazon are “believers” in the future of gaming. He also indicated that Amazon will provide resources that will help Twitch grow even larger. Twitch will be able to create tools and services that wouldn’t have been possible had Twitch stood on its own two feet.
“This change will mean great things for our community, and will let us bring Twitch to even more people around the world,” he said.
According to the agreement, Amazon will shell out approximately $970 million in cash in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of Twitch. Both parties expect to seal the deal in the second half of 2014 should the customary closing conditions be favorable.
So what will Amazon do with Twitch? We’ve reached out for a response, but we’re betting the live streaming service will somehow be tied to Amazon’s game sales. For instance, if a gamer is watching a live feed of Battlefield 4, there could be a link directing the viewer to the product, such as “Buy Now.”
Previously, unnamed sources claimed that Google signed a deal to acquire Twitch for a meaty $1 billion. So why then did Twitch choose Amazon over Google/YouTube? According to Shear, it was because Amazon believed in the Twitch community.
“They share our values and long-term vision, and they want to help us get there faster,” Shear said in a thank you letter. “We’re keeping most everything the same: our office, our employees, our brand, and most importantly our independence. But with Amazon’s support we’ll have the resources to bring you an even better Twitch.”
Meanwhile, here’s what Amazon told Tom’s Hardware about the acquisition:
Amazon is highly invested in Games. We have a significant business selling video games, most game developers use AWS to build their game infrastructure, and we've continued to invest in improving the customer experience for gamers and game developers—developing original new games via Amazon Game Studios and releasing capabilities like Amazon Appstream and Amazon Cognito to remove even more heavy lifting from game development.
Twitch is another substantial step in this direction for Amazon. Twitch has fundamentally changed how games are consumed and interacted with, and it's a service that gamers and game broadcasters now find hard to live without. Playing video games started with single player gaming, then came multiplayer, now there’s Twitch. It's quite remarkable what Twitch has accomplished in such a short time, and we all believe this is just the beginning of what they will become over the long term.
As to the specifics, right now we’re focused on helping Twitch continue to do what they do best and grow their community. Beyond that, I’ll have to ask you to stay tuned.
Follow Kevin Parrish @exfileme. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

So it is good for them to have the forward vision and realize they need to diversify and expand. Many companies who were large and successful companies are in graveyards of history because their leadership was too arrogant and ignorant to accept changing market conditions and adapt. I mean that's business school 101 stuff right there that so many have failed to remember.
What you are saying is completely correct. But if Amazon did provide more up-to-par service in Europe, the revenue would rise to a number higher than the US sales.
Amazon to acquire twitch, giving a competition to its fellow rival Google
http://geekthem.com/amazon-acquires-twitch-online-streaming-gaming-site/
@10tacle @Shneiky
What are you guys saying!?!!? Amazon is HUGE in Europe! They have 8 gigantic fulfillment centers in the UK alone, and another 12 in France and Germany.
As for Netherlands and Belgium not being covered, that's total rubbish. I'm studying in Maastricht right now, and we get free 3-day shipping on all Amazon fulfilled orders above 20 euro from the German site. Same for Belgium, Denmark and Luxembourg. There's even a distribution center in Amsterdam... And up until 4 months ago, It was free shipping for orders from the UK as well...
Just saying... know your stuff before you comment
And PS - Amazon is "HUGE" mostly in UK. 4 billion of the total Amazon revenue for 2013 is from UK alone.
True there's no .nl, but .de is just across the border..
I ordered a room full of gear when I moved to NL for Uni (3 monitors, full tower computer hardware, speakers, amps, lights, disco ball, fog machine, printer, laser show, induction cook tops, kitchen items, about half a km of various cabling, bedding items - pretty much everything other than IKEA furniture) from Amazon.de and everything came with free shipping. Sunday orders were delivered usually by Wed or Thurs.... and prices are the best I could find... NL seems pretty well covered to me :\
Anyway back on topic; There's a great livestream of an all-episode Half Life marathon right now by @dannyodwwyer from Gamespot. Gotta love twitch, hope it stays this way. But I feel much better about amazon buying them than Google or FB.
@10tacle @Shneiky
What are you guys saying!?!!? Amazon is HUGE in Europe! They have 8 gigantic fulfillment centers in the UK alone, and another 12 in France and Germany.
As for Netherlands and Belgium not being covered, that's total rubbish. I'm studying in Maastricht right now, and we get free 3-day shipping on all Amazon fulfilled orders above 20 euro from the German site. Same for Belgium, Denmark and Luxembourg. There's even a distribution center in Amsterdam... And up until 4 months ago, It was free shipping for orders from the UK as well...
Just saying... know your stuff before you comment
More often than nought you cant send items from UK to other places in EU. EX. the kindle is only available to UK, if you try buy it in the UK amazone.
The service outside the respektive country's where they have set up shops, is really horrible.
I definitely agree.
Google does not have a monopoly. In fact, no where close. Being the best company, with the best products, with the best prices, does not mean you have a monopoly. It means you are a successful business. The government has done a fantastic job in educating the American people to be fearful of great companies.