A "rapid rise" in consumption of esports and streamed games content will drive $3.5B in revenues by '21, up from $1.8B in '17, according to BROADBAND TV NEWS. Juniper Research’s latest report, eSports, Let’s Play & Watch Play: Competitive Tournaments & Content Streaming 2017-2021, found that while the subscription model, as seen on platforms such as Twitch, "will contribute significant revenues to the industry," it will be "advertisers who reap rewards," with almost 90% of esports and Let’s Play viewers also watching ad-supported casual games streams in '21. Alongside esports viewership, the popularity of casual Let’s Plays -- commentary on streams of the playing of videogames -- has "accelerated dramatically." While advertising, "and increasingly tips, are dominant in the viewership of casual games streaming," esports content has begun to be monetized through alternative means. Juniper believes that the sale of merchandise, time-limited content -- such as in-game items -- and access passes, will form part of a "wider trend to drive the industry forward" (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 3/14).
