YouTube is "planting its flag" in e-sports, and if it keeps buying exclusive streaming rights, Twitch "could lose its throne," according to Kellen Beck of MASHABLE. Twitch "helped popularize live streaming in the video game world" when it launched in '11, and "arguably caused the esports scene to explode" in the years since. However, others like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter have "started to double down on live video." As Twitch "grew into the go-to site" for streaming e-sports, YouTube became e-sports' "secondary video home, hosting uploads of matches after they concluded and eventually broadcasting tournaments right alongside Twitch." YouTube "doesn't want to take second place to Twitch, so it's forcing fans to switch over." When YouTube and ESL "announced their partnership in January, the deal didn't look promising." When YouTube and the Esports Championship Series announced their partnership this week, the "fog started to clear." With these two deals, YouTube has "nearly cornered the market" on "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive" leagues. CS:GO is "one of the top three most-watched esports" alongside "League of Legends" and "Dota 2." With the power and money of Google behind it, YouTube's "takeover doesn't sound unlikely down the road." In the meantime, Twitch "needs to do everything it can to hang onto the reins" (MASHABLE.com, 3/17).
