Lessons from the Top: Delving into Tarik’s Co-Streaming Strategy
In a surprising development last week, Tarik ‘tarik’ Celik delivered a masterstroke in co-streaming. His Valorant VCT co-stream gathered 2.9 million hours watched, surpassing Riot’s official English Broadcast, which stood at 2.4 million.
For gaming giants like Riot, co-streaming is a mixed bag of fortune. It amplifies viewership and brand visibility for their game, but also endangers the allure of their sponsored main broadcasts. This delicate equilibrium will likely be the focus of game companies’ strategies as co-streaming continues to evolve.
But what makes viewers prefer casual co-streams over polished official broadcasts? The charm is in the personal bond that appealing streamers like Tarik build. While the production quality might pale in comparison to that of official channels, these co-streamed sessions satisfy viewers’ appetite for real, organic content from their favorite personalities.
As Tarik stated in a recent interview with Forbes, “When I co-stream, I’m just trying to have a good time and call it like I see it… I’m really just hanging out with the community, we’re way more relaxed and are looking for the entertainment of the event…”
Smaller streamers aspiring to grow their audience can learn from Tarik’s success:
- Deliver Genuine Content: Dish out content that’s raw and genuine. It might lack technological gloss, but authenticity resonates on another level.
- Interactive Engagement: Audience interaction is key for Tarik. His viewers are always an integral part of the broadcast.
- Leverage Entertainment: Rather than mimicking the formal coverage of official broadcasts, focus on serving the fun.
- Cultivate a Community: Focus on ‘hanging out with the audience.’ Creating an inclusive space where viewers want to share their opinions can significantly boost growth.
Tarik’s unprecedented success sheds light on the promising future of co-streaming. Achieving the perfect blend between entertainment and authenticity, he has set the bar high. It begs the question of how gaming companies and emerging streamers will adapt to this rising trend.
Courtroom Drama Goes Live on YouTube
Livestreaming on platforms like Twitch and YouTube has long been associated with gaming, but it’s now emerging as a go-to medium for real-time event coverage. The announcement that Donald Trump’s trial will be broadcast live on YouTube has offered a fresh perspective on how key events can reshape the landscape for livestreamers, both established and aspiring.
In 2020, Twitch streamer Hasan Piker amassed over 125,000 concurrent viewers at the peak of his commentary during the US presidential debate. His success hinged on his ability to entertain but also on his aptitude for making complex topics both engaging and accessible, thereby raising public discourse about politics on the platform. During election week, his accumulative broadcasts amassed 6.8 million watch hours by an average of 75,000 concurrent viewers, solidifying his position as one of the platform’s most-watched streamers.
Last week saw India’s Chandrayaan-3 Moon Landing livestream break records with over 8 million concurrent viewers. This broadening of the livestream landscape brings a unique opportunity to connect with wider audiences. New and engaging content can be provided while simultaneously offering real-time commentary, analysis, and breaking down complex topics to the audience.
Stepping into legal and political spheres can be risky; there’s a fine line between engaging in discussion and disseminating misinformation, but it’s an exciting development nonetheless. If milestone events like presidential trials and moon landings are now streaming live, who knows what’s next?
Streamers Step Back: Creator League’s Crypto Controversy
eFuse, an influential player in the esports landscape, recently announced the suspension of its Creator League project, an endeavor met with controversy and fan backlash for its association with Blockchain technology.
The Creator League was an ambitious project where teams led by popular internet figures like Bella Poarch and IShowSpeed would compete against one another in various esports games over a 10-month season. Promoted with the help of YouTube star MrBeast, the project started on a high note. But the mood quickly changed when fans and creators became aware of the project’s links to Blockchain technology.
CDawgVA, one of the big names involved in the league, was upset about not being fully informed regarding these tech details and openly shared his plans to step back.
After several layoffs across departments at eFuse, the company officially confirmed the postponement and the upcoming organizational restructuring plans. eFuse’s CEO, Matthew Benson, labeled the Creator League as an experiment and expressed continued enthusiasm for the project. He mentioned that they are prepared to face obstacles on the path of innovative gaming projects.
As a consolation, eFuse promised a full refund for Community Pass buyers with an option to request refunds added to the project page.
The eFuse saga serves as a crucial reminder for creators of the importance of understanding and scrutinizing the fine print before collaborating on any project, particularly those involving relatively new and complex technologies like Blockchain.
News Highlights
- Twitch discontinues its Moments feature, after limited use.
- Twitch SUBtember goes live, offering up to 30% savings on subscriptions without affecting streamer revenue.
- The full roster of sponsors and exhibitors for TwitchCon has been announced.
- YouTube employees are concerned that Shorts could ruin the platform.
- YouTube adds comments to songs and podcast episodes.
- TikTok launches Gifted Subscriptions for live creators.
- TikTok opens its first EU data center to appease regulators.
- Ninja has launched a podcast with Matthew McConaughey & Steve Aoki as his first guests.
- NFL, NBA, and UFC push for quicker DMCA takedowns.
- A warning to Discord users: Be vigilant with links.
