LIRIK, TimTheTatman and DrLupo announce new “multi-million” Twitch deals
Three of Twitch’s biggest streamers have recommitted to the Amazon-owned platform with new exclusive deals, amid a turbulent time for the website which has lost some of it’s other top stars to rival streaming sites, as reported by esports consultant Rod “Slasher” Breslau.
Two of the three most-followed channels on Twitch, Ninja and Shroud, both left to join Mixer earlier in 2019, Microsoft’s rival platform which aims to dethrone Twitch, or at the very least, loosen it’s monopoly-like grip.
Similarly, other big names like CouRage and Disguised Toast have left to stream exclusively on YouTube and Facebook respectively. Combined with more departures to Mixer from King Gothalion and Ewok, Twitch will know it needs to take action.
Shroud became the second big name to join Mixer, after Ninja.In a positive move, three massive names and veteran streamers on the Twitch platform, Saqib ‘LIRIK’ Zahid, Tim ‘TimTheTatman’ Betar and Ben ‘DrLupo’ Lupo have all recommitted to multi-year deals.
These were three names surrounded in speculation that they could be tempted away by rival platforms, with all of them boasting a combined follower count of upwards of 10 million.
DrLupo explained that not only would staying with Twitch help make it easier for his fans to stay up to date with him, but also ensure “financial security” for his family, by “securing the bag.”
— DrLupo (@DrLupo) December 10, 2019
LIRIK is best known as a ‘variety streamer’, and one of the very early broadcasters on the platform. TimTheTatman and DrLupo also stream a variety of games, but benefitted most from the explosion of Fortnite, which boosted all of Twitch viewership.
https://twitter.com/LIRIK/status/1204461955932663811
I have an announcement… pic.twitter.com/2B9xhWdl7l
— timthetatman👑 (@timthetatman) December 10, 2019
The three are all represented by the same talent agency, Loaded, who also represent Ninja and Shroud, and countless other big-name streamers.
This talent agency is believed to be part of securing these deals with various platforms, according to Slasher, they can amount to multimillion-dollar contracts.
Loaded, the agency representing nearly all of the top streamers in the world including Ninja, shroud, CouRage, timthetatman, DrLupo, and LIRIK, continues to bring in multi-million dollar contract deals for all of their top clients
— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) December 10, 2019
Perhaps the increased competition coming from Mixer and YouTube, and even Facebook Live, has prompted Twitch to think more carefully about how they attract and retain popular talents.
Having streamers with millions of fans is crucial for any platform that wants to engage those fans, and the moves have so far been a success for Mixer, with two of the biggest names undoubtedly pulling in new users.
However, Twitch would argue it still remains in pole position for aspiring streamers, with its established userbase for livestream content. YouTube is, of course, more popular for VOD content, but its continued efforts to expand in livestreaming is perhaps the biggest threat to Twitch’s dominance.