Twitch Loses Ground: Viewership Declines as YouTube and Kick Rise

Twitch Loses Ground: Viewership Declines as YouTube and Kick Rise

2. August 2024 by Valentin Pasetti

In the ever-evolving world of live-streaming, Twitch, despite still holding the top spot, is witnessing a significant decline in its market share. Meanwhile, competitors like YouTube Gaming and Kick are making notable gains, reshaping the streaming landscape as reported by Stream Hatchet.

Twitch’s Declining Market Share

Twitch has experienced a marked drop in its market dominance. Comparing year-over-year data, Twitch’s market share has decreased by nearly 10%. From holding over 70% in Q2 2023, its share has now fallen to approximately 60% in 2024. This decline in Twitch’s dominance correlates with the rise of other platforms:

  • YouTube Gaming: With a substantial increase in market share, YouTube Gaming now holds 23% of the market, up 6% from the previous year.
  • Kick: This platform has also made impressive strides, capturing 5.5% of the market and amassing 462 million hours of viewership.

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Current Viewership Statistics:

PlatformHours WatchedMarket Share
Twitch5.1 Billion60.3%
YouTube Gaming2 Billion23.4%
Kick462 Million5.5%
AfreecaTV451 Million3.4%
CHZZK290 Million2.1%

Rise of YouTube and Kick

The decline in Twitch’s viewership is evident with a 5% drop in hours watched this year. In contrast:

  • YouTube Gaming has seen a remarkable 50% increase in viewership.
  • Kick has achieved an extraordinary 163% growth in viewership, although it started from a smaller base.

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Additional Insights:

  • Steam has also entered the top six platforms with 138 million hours watched.
  • Facebook Live has nearly exited the competitive scene, with Rumble surpassing it as the 7th most-watched platform, particularly benefiting from political content related to the upcoming U.S. elections.

Top Streamers

Kai Cenat has emerged as the most popular streamer across all platforms, amassing 43.8 million hours watched. Cenat’s impressive viewership is largely attributed to his marathon streams, including his notable 166-hour Elden Ring marathon.

Top Streamers:

  1. Kai Cenat – 43.8 Million Hours (Twitch)
  2. Gaules – 23.8 Million Hours (Twitch, YouTube)
  3. Jynxzi – 22.9 Million Hours (Twitch)
  4. Ibai – 20.1 Million Hours (Twitch)
  5. xQc – 19.2 Million Hours (Kick, Twitch)

Among female content creators, notable streamers have also made significant impacts, contributing to the dynamic changes in the streaming world.

 

Kevin Hart discovering what gifted subs are on Kai Cenat’s Twitch stream is actually hilarious
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Conclusion

Stream Hatchet’s report underscores the shifting dynamics in online streaming. While Twitch remains a leader, its dominance is waning as YouTube Gaming and Kick make significant strides.

With the growth of new platforms and evolving viewer preferences, the landscape of live-streaming continues to evolve rapidly. The rise of new content creators and platforms is set to further transform the industry, making it an exciting time for streaming enthusiasts and industry observers alike.

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