As the month of September passed, Kick, the new streaming site, is making waves in the esports industry with dramatic viewership numbers that reflect its sheer growth. Of note is that the site has reached a milestone with over 6.8 million Hours Watched, and it is its highest month ever for esports viewership. With a trend that will be set to go even higher later this month, Kick is making quite a name for itself as a dominant force in the popular world of esports streaming.
Trumping its August record by more than 300,000 Hours Watched, Kick's latest figures reveal that it now takes a healthy slice of the streaming cake with barely under 4% of all live esports watchtime. Such achievements have put Kick on the fourth-largest streaming platform ranking behind only industry giants Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok.
Kick's esports viewers have been boosted by a schedule of headline events streamed throughout the month. Among the key tournaments, the Rocket League World Championship and Dota 2's The International drew a large audience, backed by a string of League of Legends tournaments, with Turkey's TCL prominently featured. This mix of tournaments positions Kick as a leading destination among esports viewers seeking compelling live content in a distinct way.
The growth path of the platform has not escaped attention. Kick has continuously grown its esports viewership since summer 2024, reaching a milestone of more than 1 million Hours Watched for esports content in September. This achievement is not only a testament to the increasing popularity of esports but also to the successful strategies and alliances of Kick. The platform created headlines last year by acquiring non-exclusive broadcast rights for major events such as the PGL Copenhagen Major 2024 and the forthcoming fall season of BLAST Premier.
In anticipation of the beginning of early July 2025, Kick will further establish itself in the esports market with the news that the Champion of Champions Tour (CCT) will exclusively broadcast all its tournaments on Kick. The major development is an strategic shift in direction towards securing exclusive deals for the specific aim of drawing new viewers and firmly establishing Kick's position in the esports sector.
In addition, the following Fragadelphia series, i.e., Frag Blocktober 2025 planned for October 2-5, is also going to be a highlight event. The tournament is one of the last opportunities for esports teams to acquire VRS points required for their qualification into the well-respected StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. Such tournaments will not only increase Kick's viewership numbers but also enhance its popularity among competitive players and fans alike further.
In short, as September ends, Kick's rapid increase in esports viewership is more than just a number. It is a symbol for change in viewing behavior for esports content and increased importance on diverse streaming platforms. With super-exclusive deals and an unstoppable drive to provide quality content, Kick is not just playing the esports game—it is revolutionizing it. As we enter around the corner into the future of esports in 2024 and beyond, Kick's role will most definitely be one to watch.