Live streaming viewership reached 8.5 billion hours in Q2 2024, representing a 10% year-over-year increase.
See it on page 3Twitch's market share of hours watched declined from 70% in Q2 2023 to 60% in Q2 2024.
See it on page 2YouTube Gaming grew to a 23% market share, while the platform Kick captured 5.5% of the total viewership.
See it on page 5The top 5% of creators now account for 86% of total viewership, down from 98% in 2019, indicating a more democratized creator ecosystem.
See it on page 17The Action genre experienced a 30% surge in viewership, largely driven by the release of the Elden Ring DLC.
See it on page 12Esports viewership remained stable at 654 million hours, with the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational identified as the quarter's top event.
See it on page 4Live streaming viewership reached 8.5 billion hours watched in the second quarter of 2024, marking a 10% year-over-year increase and a significant resurgence following a post-pandemic decline. While Twitch remains the market leader, its dominance is waning; its market share of hours watched fell from 70% in Q2 2023 to 60% in Q2 2024. This shift is driven by the growth of YouTube Gaming, which rose to a 23% share, and the emergence of alternative platforms like Kick, which now holds 5.5% of the market. Regional and niche platforms such as the South Korean Chzzk and the politically-oriented Rumble also gained traction, with the latter seeing a viewership spike during U.S. presidential debates.
The industry is also witnessing a democratization of viewership. The market share held by the top 5% of creators dropped from 98% in 2019 to 86% in 2024, suggesting a more diverse ecosystem for smaller streamers. In terms of content, Grand Theft Auto V and League of Legends remain the most-watched titles, though the Action genre saw a 30% surge driven by the Elden Ring DLC. Esports viewership remained stable at 654 million hours, with the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational serving as the quarter's premier event.
This analysis covers global live-streaming trends across major platforms including Twitch, YouTube, Kick, and several emerging services. Data is derived from Stream Hatchet’s business intelligence platform, which aggregates granular viewership metrics such as hours watched and peak concurrent viewers. The findings highlight a transition from traditional FPS and MOBA dominance toward more dynamic RPG and Action titles, alongside a shifting platform landscape where new competitors are successfully challenging established leaders.
