What is Caffeine and Why Should You Care?
Is there a new kid on the block? Can anything overtake the Twitch juggernaut? Here’s my review of Caffeine’s streaming platform.
With a focus of building a platform with a more friendly community that the infamous YouTube comment system and Twitch Chat (although I’ve found the majority of Twitch Chats to be incredibly positive, rewarding and hilarious), Caffeine is hoping to become the next big thing for “gaming, entertainment and the creative arts”.
Personally, I think they should focus primarily on IRL/Just Chatting and creative art streaming but that’s just me!
Fox alone is investing $100 million into the startup as well as a newly-formed joint venture called Caffeine Studios. The studio will produce exclusive esports, video game, sports, and live entertainment content that will be streamed to Caffeine’s audience.
Viewers conversations and chat are overlaid onto the caffeine live stream itself, meaning viewers can easily interact with other conversations without having to monitor the stream and chat, and streamers do not need multiple monitors just to keep an eye on alerts, chat and other live activities.
Currently a web, iOS and Android apps, Caffeine sports some impressive software behind it, promising real time streaming with no latency or delays:
“The company built out its own real-time distribution video network that leverages WebRTC — the same technology that powers things like Google Hangouts and other peer-to-peer communications. That means everything on Caffeine is taking place in real-time with zero delays.” — Caffeine
While there is no partnership program right now — which means everybody is able to make money within the platform — there are no adverts and viewers can buy digital goods for streamers by using Caffeine’s in-platform currency.
So, why should we care?
While Caffeine may not break any records for a number of viewers or streamers, it shows there is a healthy demand for new live streaming platforms that cater to different audiences and content creators. If you feel lost, confused or are giving up with Twitch or YouTube as platforms, there are always places such as Mixer or Caffeine that may be a more suitable place for your content.
Fox’s deal with Caffeine also enables streamers to re-stream copyrighted content from Fox properties such as Fox Sports! Huge move.
Or y’know, you could ask me why you aren’t growing on Twitch and check out my Twitch streaming coaching!
What are your thoughts on Caffeine? Have you tried it and liked it? Let’s us know on Twitter or by joining our Discord!
The Emergence is a stream education, guides & tutorial website who also happens to stream. You can find out more about us below:
- Website — theemergence.co.uk
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