ST. PETERSBURG (Jan. 29, 2021) Presidential Inaugurations are huge media events, but YouTube and Twitch brought in thousands of viewers do to online streaming.
Online streaming is a modern alternative to traditional cable television. All a viewer needs is an internet connection and a streaming platform to watch the content they desire.
YouTube was by far the most popular streaming platform for the Biden Inauguration with it taking 95% of online viewership. The Biden Inauguration Committee’s official YouTube channel contributed to the platform’s large market share, but it was not the most viewed stream.
Many traditional cable news networks have begun using online platforms to enhance their own content and to gain more views. The Inauguration stream from NBC News was the most popular on YouTube. ABC News won third place on YouTube right behind Biden’s official channel.
Despite YouTube’s dominance, Twitch which is mostly known for video games was the second most used streaming platform for the Biden Inauguration with 5% of all online viewing.
Biden’s official Inauguration channel was one of the most watched channels on Twitch but again, it was not the most viewed. A core difference between Twitch and YouTube is that individual content creators had more success on Twitch covering the Inauguration than traditional news networks.
Hasan Piker who on Twitch is known as “HasanAbi” was the most popular Inauguration channel on the platform. Piker is known for political commentary and video games as he is a former producer of The Young Turks.
Hugo Travers who on Twitch is known as “HugoDécrypte” was the third most viewed stream on the platform right behind Biden’s official channel which was second. Travers is a French content creator who conducts online journalism and hosts his own news show.
“Over the last few weeks and months, many Twitch streamers shifted their content from video games to presidential debate and election coverage,” said Ashray Urs, head of product at Streamlabs.
Streaming political content has become more popular in the past year as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was able to break records on Twitch with her “Among Us” streams. These streams which featured Ocasio-Cortez playing the online multiplayer game with other Twitch personalities were created to encourage people to vote in the 2020 Election.
Even with additional security and health protocols for COVID-19, Joe Biden was peacefully sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. Many people witnessed this event on a streaming platform at home.