Rumors started about Google purchasing Twitch for $1 Billion about three months ago. Since then we have not heard anything official from either Google or Twitch. So has the deal even happened or is Twitch looking for other suitors? Well it has been reported today by multiple sources that Amazon is in “late stage stalks” to purchase Twitch.tv for $1 billion.
Twitch.tv live streams video game content to 45 million viewers a month. Lately they have been cleaning up with aggressive copyright enforcement and mass deletion of old videos. They have also shut down live streaming site Justin.tv. This all has most likely been done to attract a buyer.
The Wall Street Journal first reported saying according to “a person who has been briefed on the matter,” Amazon + Twitch is a done deal for $1 billion. The report says the official announcement could be made as soon as Monday.
Bloomberg has also reported on the matter giving a figure of $1.1 billion and that an official announcement could be made as soon as today.
If a deal does happen expect the announcement to come very soon!
Update: The deal is done! Amazon has officially purchased Twitch.tv for $970 million. Both Twitch and Amazon have announced the deal. On the Twitch announcement page CEO Emmett Shear thanked the Twitch community for helping build the company. He also said that “with Amazon’s support we’ll have the resources to bring you an even better Twitch.” The announcement also said that Twitch will remain mostly the same as Twitch will keep the same office, employees and brand. According to the Amazon press release the acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2014.
