With Kick, the upstart streaming platform owned by Trainwreck, signing big names like xQc and Amouranth with Ninja also joining the platform, the battle between established platforms like Twitch and YouTube just got a lot more interesting. Dr Disrespect, a name that resonates in the industry, has laid out a number that might make this battle more intriguing — a whopping $50 million. This is the figure he'd need to move from YouTube, his current streaming home, to the green platform, Kick.
Dr Disrespect, born Herschel Beahm IV, is a maverick character in the streaming universe. He first emerged on Twitch with his larger-than-life persona gaining a dedicated following.
After his controversial ban from Twitch, he moved to YouTube, where his unique brand of content continues to thrive.
50 million is my number… pic.twitter.com/CiLLKYnXUc
— Dr Disrespect (@DrDisrespect) June 22, 2023
On June 22, he took to Twitter and openly named his price: "50 Million is my number…", a bold declaration that sparked a ton of interest and conversation among fans and industry stakeholders. Fans shared their thoughts on the two-time joining the budding site, with one saying, "See you soon, Doc," and another praising the Doc for "giving them a bargain."
In a direct response to Dr Disrespect's tweet, the official Kick Twitter account offered a salute of acknowledgment, spurring further speculation on the potential deal. Notably, while he currently streams exclusively on YouTube, he doesn't have an exclusive contract with the platform, leaving the door wide open for Kick to swoop in and make a lucrative offer.
Kick, a platform backed by the co-founders of crypto betting startup Stake, launched in December 2022 and has made a ton of strides since. Unlike its predecessors, Facebook Gaming and Microsoft's Mixer, Kick's approach to breaking Twitch's monopoly has been slightly different. Its strategy? A generous revenue split of 95-5 in favor of the content creators, and signing high-profile streamers to non-exclusive contracts.
The strategy seems to be paying off. In the past weeks, the platform has made headlines by signing Twitch's top streamer, xQc, to a staggering $100 million deal. Following close on the heels of this deal was Twitch star Amouranth, though the details of her contract remain undisclosed.
If Kick decides to match Dr Disrespect's figure, it would equal the 2019 deal between Ninja and Mixer, which, until the Kick deal with xQc, was the biggest contract in the streaming industry. However, considering the recent incidents with xQc, who began openly defying Kick's staff and policies shortly after signing his $100 million deal, Kick might approach the Doc's proposition with caution.
Ultimately, this development highlights the growing competition in the live-streaming industry. Kick's rise and the interest it has attracted from major streamers indicate a shifting landscape. Twitch's dominance is being challenged more than ever, and the platform must adapt to retain its position.
As for Dr Disrespect, whether or not he makes a move to Kick, his role in the conversation is making the ongoing platform wars even more engaging.
50 mil is not a huge ask considering a lot of people love the dude.
been a fan of his for several years, they would be smart to acquire him he would make them lots of $$$
The fact that he is so loved and yet hated will draw so much attention to the platform, it would be insane. I want him to go to Kick personally so I could be done with Twitch.