The most awkward experiment on the internet is now over. Justin.tv is shutting down to give way to Twitch.tv.
Twitch Interactive announced that Justin.tv will no longer be in service. Aside from the site, APIs and mobile apps will no longer work as well so users are encouraged to make the switch to Twitch.tv. Why the shutdown? The company wants to focus its resources on Twitch.tv, fueling speculations that Twitch Interactive will be acquired by Google for $1 billion.
Justin.tv started out in 2007. Before it caught on, it was simply a channel that featured Justin Kan's life 24/7. It popularized lifecasting as a term but swiftly moved on to let other people broadcast video content live as well on their own channels. Justin.tv was based in San Francisco and received funding from Draper Associates, Alsop Louie Partners and Paul Graham from Y Combinator.
Now that Justin.tv is closing up shop, a lot of users will likely not be happy. User accounts can no longer be accessed because they have been suspended and videos can no longer be downloaded as well, even personal ones. Those with Pro Accounts will be refunded and should have received emails about the process. As for following and followers, any followed channel on Justin.tv will not carry over to Twitch.tv unless the channel itself transferred. The same goes for followers. A user's list of followers will not be kept unless the followers themselves have moved to Twitch.
"If you used your justin.tv account to login to Twitch, the account will still work on Twitch; however, we encourage you to complete this form to have your account transferred to Twitch for full site use. Request to transfer account must be received by Friday, September 5, 2014. Please be reminded today, Twitch is a site for gaming-related content only. Refer to the Twitch TOS for more info on content guidelines," explains a post on Justin.tv.
Much of the success Twitch.tv is enjoying now is because of what Twitch Interactive learned during their days in Justin.tv. In particular, the company learned that allowing users to broadcast however many times they want free of charge and allowing broadcasts to be watched without a registration works.
Though the gap that Justin.tv will leave will surely be felt, it shouldn't be too long before another service steps up to fill the void. Competitors can also use this opportunity to expand their reach and try to attract former Justin.tv users although Twitch.tv is already waiting in the wings.
