Kick Co-Founder Bijan Tehrani Weighs in on Failed Deals with Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed
In a recent statement, Bijan Tehrani, co-founder of the streaming platform Kick, confirmed that popular streamers Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed have declined lucrative offers to join the platform. Following this development, Tehrani expressed ambitions to potentially purchase Twitch, setting the stage for a significant shift in the streaming landscape.
Kai Cenat’s Record-Breaking Achievement
Kai Cenat made headlines in November when he reclaimed the record for the most subscribed Twitch streamer shortly after the launch of his event, the Mafiathon. Cenat later revealed that Kick had allegedly offered him an extraordinary $60 million to stream this first-of-its-kind subathon. However, this claim was met with a counter from Kick co-owner Trainwreck, who clarified the offer was actually for $22 million over a year.
Previous Offers and Rejections
Earlier this year, Adin Ross reported that Kick had proposed $40 million contracts to both Cenat and IShowSpeed. As discussions around these offers progressed, Tehrani highlighted new concerns that contributed to their unsuccessful attempts to sign the streamers.
Big respect to Kai, we tried to get him and Speed over but we didn’t even have a mobile app at the time. Ultimately they signed with Rumble which gave them a lot more flexibility (1-2 streams a month). We aren’t doing big signings right now, our priority is our tech. Don’t…
— Bijan Tehrani (@BijanTehrani) November 12, 2024
Kick’s Strategy Moving Forward
Tehrani acknowledged his respect for Cenat’s achievements and revealed that Kick had pursued these prominent streamers prior to having a mobile app available, acknowledging their inability to compete with Rumble’s offer, which afforded the users greater flexibility in their streaming schedules.
Despite early success with content on Rumble, the duo has not streamed since their March 27 episode, when they hosted a sleepover in Episode 12. When queried about future offers to either Cenat or IShowSpeed, Tehrani was noncommittal but maintained that Kick’s priorities are shifting towards technological advancement.
april 26 2027
— Kick (@KickStreaming) November 13, 2024
Tehrani indicated that while Kick is not currently making significant signings, the platform is experiencing record usage and remains focused on a long-term goal: to surpass or potentially acquire Twitch. This ambition was underscored by a cryptic tweet from the official Kick account referencing an enigmatic date: April 26, 2027.
Industry Outlook
Interestingly, the idea of Twitch undergoing a buyout is not new. Echoes of similar sentiments were heard in October when Chris Pavlovski, CEO of Rumble, predicted impending challenges for Twitch, suggesting the possibility of its shutdown or sale within the next couple of years due to growing criticism over its moderation policies.
As the competitive streaming landscape evolves, all eyes will be on Kick and its quest to secure a more prominent position among the giants of online streaming.
Leave a Reply