The work of watching Twitch: Audience labour in livestreaming and esports

Abstract

This article focuses on the interactivity afforded to audiences by the video game livestreaming platform twitch.tv. Drawing on theories of audience labour, we explore what audience interactivity on Twitch might mean within the context of the contemporary digital economy. Specifically, and inspired by a range of existing work in media and cultural studies research on audiences, we argue that interactive audience practices on Twitch can be read as a site of ‘audience work’. Our contention is that the various kinds of interactive, audience practices on Twitch generate considerable economic value for the platform and its broadcasters. In the context of growing academic interest in livestreaming platforms like Twitch, this article contributes a new perspective towards the role that the interactivity of Twitch plays in creating commodified and commercially desirable experiences via the labour of audience activity.