Twitch is the New Broadcast Television

On Saturday, Mar. 12, live streaming platform Twitch was privy to its own awards ceremony hosted (and entirely created by) the likes of QTCinderella. The broadcast was certainly no simple feat, costing, according to the female streamer, over $200,000. Held at The Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, the inaugural Streamer Awards featured 27 categories and wrangled together among the most notable streamers on the platform.

Oh, and it peaked at 381,000 views, with an average concurrent viewership sitting at about 295,000.

The Streamer Awards is only one small instance in the evolution of its mainline platform. While Twitch itself really didn't have a hand in the development, hosting, or even financial backing behind the show, it certainly benefited from its insane aftermath. The event, which was streamed on QT's own channel, now resides within the top 50 broadcasts ever on the platform and netted the female mastermind new subscriber and follower numbers in the stratosphere.

Massive live show broadcasts such as Saturday's The Streamer Awards prove Twitch and its various creators are onto something. Something huge. In an era where human contact remains somewhat uncertain, and daily existence most notably resides on the internet, content has no sooner flourished in live streaming. So much so that now, more than ever, Twitch takes up new standing as the contemporary broadcast television from yesteryear.

As staples of the platform jump ship for YouTube, some of the most brilliant and notable minds on Twitch seem unfazed as they rewrite the angle and the future on what content can truly be. From live events and IRL collaborations to the indelible Just Chatting section, Twitch has (and will continue to) evolve into the new wave TV concept it never thought it could be.

Twitch's Prime-Time Jeopardy

The aforementioned Streamer Awards had one incredibly insightful and interesting category in its midst: Best Livestreamed Event. Jerma985 took home the dub with his Dollhouse stream beating out the likes of Ibai's Balloon World Cup, PayMoneyWubby's The Price is Scuffed, and NMPlol's ShitCon. All said events were truly fantastic and utterly remarkable, which Jerma even relays himself in his victory monologue:

"To the fellow nominees, keep doing this shit. The Price is Scuffed, f**in' awesome show...Ibai, the balloon tournament, unbelievable. ShitCon, ShitCamp, unbelievable. This event right now is a huge deal, it's awesome...Keep reaching. Keep doing this shit."

The reality that most might not realize here is that for the general audience on Twitch, events such as these are typically non-existent. It makes everything mentioned prior so gratifying, and to say they each elevated the platform would be an understatement. Jerma's Dollhouse stream, which pitted the broadcaster in a Sims-like recreation based in the real world, brought home a record 600,000 views in only its first three hours.

Look no further than Ludwig's Mogul Money. The ex-Twitch star held a live stream gameshow once a month featuring three varied content creators, which inevitably led to hilarity between contestants and new insights on the world. Those streams, which now live on YouTube alongside the self-made creator, boast millions of views, with the top video being only a little under 4 million aptly titled "jschlatt ruins my gameshow."

This is where the intersection of broadcast TV meets with Twitch on a widespread forum. Shows like Jeopardy and The Price is Right bred inspiration in the likes of Twitch content creators to deliver something new and far more rewarding for their viewers. It's only one small step in the direction presented by the typical broadcast television blueprint. Daytime TV and game show now find their home on Twitch via the likes of individual creators like PayMoneyWubby, Mizkif, AustinShow, QTCinderella, and more.

Joining In On the Adventure

Over a week's time circa September 2021, several of the most well-known names on Twitch came together in an all-out content frenzy under one roof in Los Angeles. The event, aptly titled "Shit Camp," was hosted and organized by none other than QTCinderella, but the idea itself was bred initially by Malena Tudi under the guise of "ShitCon." As both names imply, the events featured well-known broadcasters under the influence in the midst of various pastimes, showcasing two large groups battling for dominance in such random games as cardboard boat-building (and subsequent racing in a pool), a scavenger hunt, trivia, kickball, and much more.

Both events have succinctly highlighted an ever-growing trend on the platform, boasting massive numbers in views, retention rates, and overall engagement. To put it plainly, these newfound IRL collaborative efforts are, in an awesome way, reimagining how both viewers and creators alike look at what can be well-made, interesting content. At the forefront of this is not merely comedy, but also parasocial insight, with many fans of viewers learning and seeing new things about their favorite creators.

Individuals such as Hachubby, who won Best IRL streamer at The Streamer Awards, as well as JakeNBakeLive take their content to incredible places - literally. Like the aforementioned ShitCamp and ShitCon, IRL streams prove Twitch can likewise be home to some of the most gripping adventures with viewers in the passenger seat. It's like the Discovery channel, only a lot less scripted and wholly uncertain.

In my opinion, some of the best live stream IRL content comes from NMPlol, a channel consisting of two faces rather than just one: Nick Polom and Malena Tudi. The duo is found more often than not cooking in the kitchen, bickering as always, but can also be found out on a drive to pick up food or cleaning up the neighborhood. Among the most interesting forms of content delivered by the duo is "Streamers in Cars," an IRL adventure tag-along that features creators like Esfand, Mitch Jones, Zoil, and more with discussions that range from the mundane to the extraordinary.

Like Shit Camp and ShitCon, the Streamers in Cars segment via NMPlol offers new insight into the creators we watch every day and, like the talk shows and various podcasts that still find life on broadcast TV, highlight current events through the eyes of said streamers. It's an interesting paradigm in how Twitch is evolving through the creative concepts brought forth via its creator lineup.

Rewriting Reality Television

The Just Chatting section on Twitch is certainly an interesting place. While the platform considers itself a gaming content station primarily, Just Chatters seemingly beg to differ. The likes of Mizkif, Hasan Piker, PayMoneyWubby, Will Neff, AustinShow, and more all prove that Twitch can be a place for avid discussion as much as it can be for simple gaming.

Here, the content truly thrives on Twitch, where creators can speak their mind, oftentimes to the detriment of their own image, but still be quite vocal and engaging with their chat. NMPlol is yet another perfect example, as his livestream is typically held in the morning and initiates with about an hour discussion on the prior day's events - not unlike Good Morning America or Morning Joe.

For politics, viewers have the loud yet still incredibly intelligent Hasan Piker, whose far-leftist ideals are the immediate draw of his over 40,000 concurrent viewership. For geopolitical takes and diplomatic concepts like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Twitch viewers can find Hasan at the ready to discuss every bit about the day's ongoing events for a record eight hours on average.

For entertainment, there's Mizkif, whose comedic escapades, witty banter, and varied guests have no sooner made him among the topmost notable streamers on the platform. While many may joke his content merely consists of women, the Twitch star has held his own in a number of different ways by being unconventional and totally himself. Through his co-owned org, OTK, Mizkif holds some of the hilarious Just Chatting events on the platform, from Schooled to Parasocial (and beyond).

Likewise, PayMoneyWubby is yet another interesting case in the Just Chatting section, showcasing incredible insight into everyday events while being completely unpredictable and hilarious. His IRL streams are also among the most brazen, featuring the content creator in situations like escape rooms, driving a tank, outdoor barbecuing, and more. Among the hilarious segments provided by the creator was his Fake Taxi, wherein he answered Discord calls as if it were Cash Cab.

For sports, there's Esfand, whose NFL Thursday Night streams are an utter delight to watch, given his avid adoration for the American pastime. His IRL streams at colleges, coined Esfand's Tailgate Tours, is yet another example of how Twitch creators are breaking the mold and providing their fans with content outside the general realm of the platform.

For movie and television reviews, there's Will Neff, whose takes are beyond insightful. The G4 recruit and 100 Thieves member proves that he knows true cinema by providing his fans with expert feedback on the most recent releases. Yet another 100 Thieves cohort is AustinShow, whose namesake seemingly needs no introduction. Previously known as RajjPatel, AustinShow has long thrived as a talk show and events-based broadcaster, best known for his Love or Host, which is a Twitch-based dating event.

My point here is to prove that Twitch clearly isn't just a space for game players. It's a content whirlpool that now holds, according to the Washington Post, 2,830,000 concurrent viewers on average, beating out popular cable networks like CNN (1,078,000). This isn't exactly news, as the platform's success has grown incredibly over the past several years, with one article dated all the way back to 2018 proving Twitch as becoming bigger than cable TV stations.

Smaller streamers should take note and heed these ever-growing trends. Despite the pandemic, IRL events, collaborations, game shows, and more are all powerhouses that are elevating the platform to newer heights. Think laser tag or paintball with friends, even running around with nerf guns. Collaborative IRL events blended with both comedy and personality can thrive more than gaming on the platform as it gives viewers a thus far unseen look into the lives they watch daily or weekly.

It's all proof that Twitch is moving into new territory. While some might still be put off by the ways in which the platform has denied certain creators the right success and the same insights, as witnessed in the still-ongoing hate raids or 2021's hot tub meta, it's clear that the platform's reach and content are ballooning into ever-interesting avenues. While YouTube may still be a powerhouse in direct-to-consumer content, Twitch remains a live streaming gem that will no sooner overshadow contemporary TV in short order if said content creators, like QTCinderall, Mizkif, Hasan, and more, continue iterating and advancing the platform.