That's Billion...with a B

So rumor is circulating that Youtube (owned by Google) is looking to purchase video game video streaming service Twitch.  For those who don't know, Twitch is a service that streams live video feeds of people playing popular video games.  Why Twitch does this?  I actually haven't found a good reason, but these streams are very popular, with 45 million viewers each month.  What does it say about Google wanting this service?  Well a lot about the entertainment industry actually.

Video games are popular.  Very popular.  They pull in more money each year than Hollywood.  Major League Gaming, is an ACTUAL thing.  People get paid (albeit very little, and I'm sure most of it comes in the form of sponsorships) to play video games competitively.  The "sport"* is growing, very quickly, and Google wants in now before it gets any bigger.

Think of how big Youtube is.  Kind of a silly question now.  It's a given, an internet staple.  It's hard to think of one without the other.  Back when google purchased Youtube it was a bold move that many people thought was crazy.  Why spend the money (and lots of it) on a service that draws in very little to no revenue?  Well they were clearly looking at the bigger picture.  The landscape of what the internet will be used for.  

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Clearly this is a landscape move.  Imagine a youtube strictly for video games, with live streaming content.  Premiering new content.  Hosting huge industry related content (Twitch TV + E3 would = big deal, with lots $$$ coming in) to the masses.  It pulls video games even more into the mainstream, and makes the force to be reckoned with, a little more intense.

Do you watch twitch?  I'm curious to see why, and what for.  Fire off in the comments below.

*for the record, I am an avid gamer and I follow the industry closely.  I however also fail to see how video gaming could be considered a sport, but thats just me.  Sports involve the body, not just thumbs.