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Twitch downloads skyrocket in China thanks to esports at the Asian Games
State broadcaster didn’t air China's victory in Arena of Valor
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This article originally appeared on ABACUS
China loves esports. And nothing’s going to stop fans from watching their national team kick ass in the Asian Games… even if it’s not on TV or local streaming services.
On China’s iOS App Store, downloads for Twitch surged to number 3 among all free apps on Monday, up more than 300 spots from the day before. One Weibo user commented, “Twitch has been taken over by China.”
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This year’s Asian Games, held in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, is the first ever to feature esports as a demonstration sport. China got off to a good start on Sunday, beating Chinese Taipei to the Arena of Valor gold medal.
China takes first esports gold at the Asian Games in Arena of Valor
But on China’s internet, tempers ran hot as fans realized that CCTV -- China’s official Asian Games broadcaster -- wasn’t airing esports events.
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“I’m angry just thinking of CCTV. I want to spit at them,” wrote one Weibo user.
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