Twitch reaches 2-year streaming rights deal for Blizzard e-sports events

Video streaming service Twitch announced Tuesday a two-year deal with Blizzard Entertainment to become the exclusive third-party home for many of the Irvine game-maker's e-sports events. Blizzard Entertainment can continue to stream video game competitions on its own services, including MLG.TV and Blizzard.com. But the global exclusivity deals a blow to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, ESPN and other apps competing for streaming rights to the growing form of entertainment. Blizzard Entertainment parent Activision Blizzard Inc. was among early adopters of Facebook's live-video feature, and it's long used YouTube to spread its content. The gaming company may continue to use those services for some unspecified competitions.