What is Twitch and why should The Walking Dead fans sign up?
By Adam Carlson
Fans of The Walking Dead should head to Twitch and sign up today.
Twitch is one of the most popular apps/websites in the world. Not only is it the unofficial home for those who love to live stream video games, but it can also be a great platform for podcasters, musicians, poets, or anyone else looking for a unique kind of interactive experience. Even if some people haven’t experience the Twitch community, now is a great time for those in The Walking Dead family to get on board.
Recently, AMC announced a partnership with Twitch to launch a new channel called TWDUniverse where fans will have the opportunity to enhance their viewing experience while expanding their audience to a different demographic.
But what is Twitch? And why will fans of The Walking Dead enjoy the experience? Let’s take a look at what TWDUniverse can offer on the streaming platform.
What is Twitch?
Twitch launched in 2011 to be a platform for gamers to stream their video games for a global audience. By October 2013, the site had 45 million unique viewers and eclipsed the popularity of its parent site, Justin.tv, which shut down in 2014. Twitch was then purchased by Amazon for $970 million and merged with Amazon’s other newly acquired property Curse to create the foundation for what Twitch has become today.
Today, Twitch sees an average of over 91,000 streamers as well as two million users online at a time to watch live videos that cover a variety of topics such as video games, makeup tutorials, musicians, podcasts, politics, and much, much more. Each stream includes a live chat bar where viewers can interact with the streamer in almost real-time to ask questions, make comments, or share fun emotes.
Why is TWDUniverse so special?
AMC getting its own Twitch channel specifically for The Walking Dead is something new and interesting. It opens up the fandom to new communities and more opportunities to discuss their favorite zombie survival drama shows in an official capacity.
Previously, AMC has won awards for interactivity thanks to Talking Dead. However, Twitch will take that interactivity to a new level and give fans more information about their favorite episodes, provide watch-along opportunities, and break down the action and drama from each episode before and after AMC airs new installments of their shows.
What does it cost to sign up on Twitch?
Signing up for an account on Twitch is free. With a free account, you can access channels and watch for free. Some channels require viewers to be at least 18 years old, and there is a chance TWDUniverse could be one of those. More information about that will be available on Sunday when the stream kicks off their broadcasting.
There are optional ways to support the stream. Subscribing to the channel will remove advertisements and allow you to use special emotes in chat. Also, viewers can purchase bits to support the stream financially, with one cent per bit typically going to the streamer.
Is Twitch hard to get used to?
For new users, Twitch may seem overwhelming. There is an ocean of content from a myriad of streamers. If you’re not familiar with the service, it is recommended to sign up and then focus on hanging out in the TWDUniverse room on Sunday to observe and ease your way into the interactivity. It is a very user-friendly interface and people should be able to catch on quickly.
Next. 10 TWD characters who died too soon. dark
Make sure to sign up and show up when TWD Universe makes their first live stream on Twitch on Sunday at 6 pm ET with their launch party (not LUNCH party) and hang out to see what the new channel is all about!
