Amazon ready to snatch Twitch away from Google: more updates

[kuddlesworth9419]

Well I would prefer Twitch to stay it's own company. Google has a huge dominance over the tech industry. It's too big and it's anti-competitive. 

[AddonCustoms]

 

 

 

 

Despite a pair of reports earlier this year suggesting that Google--through its YouTube subsidiary--would acquire Twitch, new reports state it is instead Amazon that will purchase the game streaming site.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon has agreed to a deal that will see it acquire Twitch for $1 billion. This follows an early report from The Information which stated that the deal could be announced soon (the WSJ says official word may come today), but that it was unclear if anything had yet to be signed.

 
This comes as a surprise given that YouTube was widely believed to be the site's buyer. Variety reported in May that it would acquire Twitch for $1 billion, a prospect that was reinforced by a VentureBeat report last month. Although neither of the companies involved had officially addressed the possibility, it was presumed to be on the verge of completion when Twitch recently began implementing the YouTube-like policy of automatically muting videos containing copyrighted audio earlier this month. The WSJ's sources indicate talks between Google and Twitch have "cooled" as of late.

Twitch is the largest live-streaming website in the United States by a wide margin, according to a report released this spring, and has expanded into non-gaming ventures, like streaming concerts. Amazon has become aggressive about gaining a foothold in the video game industry, attracting talent like the designers of Portal and Far Cry and purchasing Killer Instinct developer Double Helix Games.

GameSpot has contacted both Amazon and Twitch and will report back with anything we learn.

 
 
Source - GameSpot

 
Amazon Press Release
 

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 25, 2014-- Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Twitch Interactive, Inc., the leading live video platform for gamers. 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 esports organizations.

“Broadcasting and watching gameplay is a global phenomenon and Twitch has built a platform that brings together tens of millions of people who watch billions of minutes of games each month – from The International, to breaking the world record for Mario, to gaming conferences like E3. And, amazingly, Twitch is only three years old,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. “Like Twitch, we obsess over customers and like to think differently, and we look forward to learning from them and helping them move even faster to build new services for the gaming community.”

“Amazon and Twitch optimize for our customers first and are both believers in the future of gaming,” said Twitch CEO Emmett Shear. “Being part of Amazon will let us do even more for our community. We will be able to create tools and services faster than we could have independently. This change will mean great things for our community, and will let us bring Twitch to even more people around the world.”

Twitch launched in June 2011 to focus exclusively on live video for gamers. Under the terms of the agreement, which has been approved by Twitch’s shareholders, Amazon will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Twitch for approximately $970 million in cash, as adjusted for the assumption of options and other items. Subject to customary closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2014.

About Amazon.com
Amazon opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by three principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire phone, Fire tablets, and Fire TV are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.

About Twitch
Twitch is the leading live video platform and community for gamers where more than 55 million have gathered to broadcast, watch and talk about video games. Twitch’s video platform is the backbone of both live and on-demand distribution for the entire video game ecosystem. This includes game developers, publishers, media outlets, events, user generated content and the entire esports scene. In February 2014, The Wall Street Journal ranked Twitch as the 4th largest website in terms of peak internet traffic in the U.S., fortifying the brand as an entertainment industry leader and the epicenter of social video for gamers. For more information, visit: www.twitch.tv

Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment and data center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
 

Source: Amazon.com, Inc.
Amazon.com, Inc.
Media Hotline, 206-266-7180
www.amazon.com/pr
or
Twitch
Chase, PR Director, Twitch
415-810-0995

@chasejustchase

Message from Twitch CEO

Letter from the CEO
August 25, 2014
 
Dear Twitch Community,
 
It’s almost unbelievable that slightly more than 3 years ago, Twitch didn’t exist. The moment we launched, we knew we had stumbled across something special. But what followed surprised us as much as anyone else, and the impact it’s had on both the community and us has been truly profound.
 
Your talent, your passion, your dedication to gaming, your memes, your brilliance - these have made Twitch what it is today. Every day, we strive to live up to the standard set by you, the community. We want to create the very best place to share your gaming and life online, and that mission continues to guide us.
 
Together with you, we've found new ways of connecting developers and publishers with their fans. We've created a whole new kind of career that lets people make a living sharing their love of games. We’ve brought billions of hours of entertainment, laughter, joy and the occasional rage quit I think we can all call that a pretty good start.
 
Today, I'm pleased to announce we've been acquired by Amazon. We chose Amazon because they believe in our community, they share our values and long-term vision, and they want to help us get there faster. 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.
 
I personally want to thank you, each and every member of the Twitch community, for what you've created. Thank you for putting your faith in us. Thank you for sticking with us through growing pains and stumbles. Thank you for bringing your very best to us and sharing it with the world. Thank you, from a group of gamers who never dreamed they'd get to help shape the face of the industry that we love so much.
 
It’s dangerous to go alone. On behalf of myself and everyone else at Twitch, thank you for coming with us.
 
Emmett Shear, CEO

Edited August 25, 2014 by Marcus_UK

[Victorious Secret]

Google would turn Twitch into the "Lets just mine your shit and sell data elsewhere"

Amazon would turn Twitch into the "Lets just mine your shit and use it to sell you more shit directly"

I trust Amazon more, to be frank.

[DoubleY]

Hmm. This is very interesting.

 

I'm not sure how I feel about this.

[Victorious Secret]

OP, this repost sorry please look at the front page of this section because its right there. 

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/203915-amazon-reportedly-ready-to-snatch-twitch-away-from-google/

 

Posted at 1130AM, was very visible as a first page item. Come on. 

[Clyne]

Never expected that to happen, I thought Google was gonna buy it. 

[thekeemo]

waaaaaaaaa

[Chriz6097]

I hope Amazon knows what they're doing... they could really screw this up if they try and prioritize streamers based on "Prime" memberships.

[thekeemo]

waaaaa

[Sharif]

Wat!?

this is confusing

[AddonCustoms]

OP, this repost sorry please look at the front page of this section because its right there. 

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/203915-amazon-reportedly-ready-to-snatch-twitch-away-from-google/

 

Posted at 1130AM, was very visible as a first page item. Come on. 

 

WOW Sorry, I did not see that.

Edited August 25, 2014 by Marcus_UK

[twoscoops]

I hope Amazon knows what they're doing... they could really screw this up if they try and prioritize streamers based on "Prime" memberships.

 

I would much, much, much rather Amazon buy it then Google...

[AddonCustoms]

I would prefer amazon buy it.  Google buying it would be a nightmare, always wondering what they would change next.

[DeViLzzz]

OP can you get it straight for people?  It is GameSpot that is reporting this and not the game selling company called GameStop.

[AddonCustoms]

OP can you get it straight for people?  It is GameSpot that is reporting this and not the game selling company called GameStop.

opps sorry, I don't normally use gamespot, so it autocorrected to Gamestop

[totjup5]

So confused....

[ObeseWalrus]

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[Kingofpants]

I don't want to use it at all. I don't care if it is awesome at what it does, I don't want what it does. That is why I don't use Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Reddit, whatever they invented this week etc.

And Facebook maybe shit but at least they never forced it on me. Google forced Google+ on me which I will never ever forgive and forget.

Pfffft Complete and utter BS , They didn't force you to Use Google plus.

All they did was request you to Make a Google plus page so that you could get access to the new features they were adding , like comment editing , +(Randomname) to tag people, Side channels like having Techquickie and Channel super fun Be part of your channel but still separate entities and not having all the goddam usernames already taken and getting stuck with XxRandomshit47294xX And after your Google plus was intergrated all your notifications still showed on YouTube , you never really needed to go And actually use you Google plus and add your friends to it.

Not to mention they also cleaned up chat so that comments are from people who are legit rather then every single other comment being by Jessica's Sextape or Rohanas sextape or bots saying stuff like go visits my friends channel !

I don't care how you cut the cookie Google plus was a good thing. YouTube comments were really bad before and you fail to acknowledge all the improvements and only complain about having to spend a few minutes and implementing Google plus.

[alexstahp]

no longer a rumor its confirmed http://www.twitch.tv/p/thankyou

[Vrbas]

It's confirmed. http://www.twitch.tv/p/thankyou 

 

Edit - bah to late lol

[Vrbas]

http://www.twitch.tv/p/thankyou confirmed 

[Mooshi]

 

This confirms how I feel.

[MarioS]

Looks like it's official Amazon buys twitch in this post on Twitch's Blog by CEO Emmet Shear

A Letter from the CEO Emmet Shear

"It's almost unbelievable that slightly more than 3 years ago, Twitch didn’t exist. The moment we launched, we knew we had stumbled across something special. But what followed surprised us as much as anyone else, and the impact it’s had on both the community and us has been truly profound.

Your talent, your passion, your dedication to gaming, your memes, your brilliance – these have made Twitch what it is today. Every day, we strive to live up to the standard set by you, the community. We want to create the very best place to share your gaming and life online, and that mission continues to guide us.

Together with you, we’ve found new ways of connecting developers and publishers with their fans. We’ve created a whole new kind of career that lets people make a living sharing their love of games. We’ve brought billions of hours of entertainment, laughter, joy and the occasional ragequit. I think we can all call that a pretty good start.

Today, I’m pleased to announce we’ve been acquired by Amazon. We chose Amazon because they believe in our community, they share our values and long-term vision, and they want to help us get there faster. 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.

I personally want to thank you, each and every member of the Twitch community, for what you’ve created. Thank you for putting your faith in us. Thank you for sticking with us through growing pains and stumbles. Thank you for bringing your very best to us and sharing it with the world. Thank you, from a group of gamers who never dreamed they’d get to help shape the face of the industry that we love so much.

It’s dangerous to go alone. On behalf of myself and everyone else at Twitch, thank you for coming with us."

 

Source: http://blog.twitch.tv/2014/08/a-letter-from-the-ceo-august-25-2014/

[Jobbe03]

http://blog.twitch.tv/2014/08/a-letter-from-the-ceo-august-25-2014/

 

 

$970 million cash (No stocks) 

 

A Letter from the CEO – August 25, 2014

Aug 25 2014 · 11 comments · News, Press

 

It’s almost unbelievable that slightly more than 3 years ago, Twitch didn’t exist. The moment we launched, we knew we had stumbled across something special. But what followed surprised us as much as anyone else, and the impact it’s had on both the community and us has been truly profound.

Your talent, your passion, your dedication to gaming, your memes, your brilliance – these have made Twitch what it is today. Every day, we strive to live up to the standard set by you, the community. We want to create the very best place to share your gaming and life online, and that mission continues to guide us.

Together with you, we’ve found new ways of connecting developers and publishers with their fans. We’ve created a whole new kind of career that lets people make a living sharing their love of games. We’ve brought billions of hours of entertainment, laughter, joy and the occasional ragequit. I think we can all call that a pretty good start.

Today, I’m pleased to announce we’ve been acquired by Amazon. We chose Amazon because they believe in our community, they share our values and long-term vision, and they want to help us get there faster. 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.

I personally want to thank you, each and every member of the Twitch community, for what you’ve created. Thank you for putting your faith in us. Thank you for sticking with us through growing pains and stumbles. Thank you for bringing your very best to us and sharing it with the world. Thank you, from a group of gamers who never dreamed they’d get to help shape the face of the industry that we love so much.

It’s dangerous to go alone. On behalf of myself and everyone else at Twitch, thank you for coming with us.

[NUFCThomas]

at least we wont have to sign in with our google accounts