The Rise of Co-Streaming: How Community Creators Are Reshaping Counter-Strike’s Major Viewership
Hey there, Counter-Strike fans! Can you feel the excitement building? We’re just weeks away from the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, kicking off on June 2nd in Texas. While thousands will pack the arena, millions more will be watching online—and not just through the official broadcasts.
The Co-Streaming Revolution
Let’s talk about something that’s completely transformed how we experience Counter-Strike tournaments: co-streaming. If you’re newer to the CS scene, co-streaming is when independent content creators broadcast tournament gameplay with their own commentary, reactions, and analysis.
What started as a small side attraction has evolved into a massive phenomenon. These days, depending on where you’re from, you might be more likely to watch a Major through your favorite streamer’s channel than the official broadcast!
From Sidekick to Star
Co-streaming isn’t exactly new—community casters have been covering Counter-Strike events since the early days. But what’s changed dramatically is their influence and reach.
Back at PGL Major Stockholm, the first big tournament after the pandemic, co-streamers only attracted about 7% of total viewers. Fast forward to PGL Major Copenhagen 2024, and something unprecedented happened: for the first time ever, more people watched through co-streamers than the official broadcast itself!
What sparked this massive shift? A few key factors:
- Organizers relaxed their policies, allowing more diverse creators to stream events
- Many co-streamers secured rights to broadcast without delays (previously they had to stream with a several-minute delay)
- Betting sponsors backed many streamers, providing resources to improve their production quality
- The transition from CS:GO to CS2 created a moment where viewing habits could change
A Global Phenomenon with Regional Flavor
One of the most fascinating aspects of this trend is how differently it’s playing out across regions. Let’s break it down:
Russian-Speaking Community: The Co-Streaming Champions
If you’re watching Counter-Strike in Russian, chances are you’re doing it through a co-streamer. The numbers here are staggering—in recent Majors, independent broadcasters have captured over 80% of the Russian-speaking audience!
Ukrainian creator Vadim “Evelone” Kazakov leads the pack, despite not being primarily a Counter-Strike streamer. His massive following and entertaining case-opening content have made him the go-to viewing option for many Eastern European fans. Igor “SL4M” Sopov, with his deep knowledge from years at StarLadder, has also built a dedicated audience.
Brazilian Dominance: The Gaules Effect
The Portuguese-language scene tells perhaps the most dramatic story of creator loyalty. Typically, co-streamers account for only 1-5% of viewership in this market. But at PGL Major Copenhagen 2024, something remarkable happened: co-streamers captured nearly 89% of the Portuguese-speaking audience!
The reason? Alexandre “Gaules” Borba Chiqueta, Brazil’s beloved Counter-Strike icon, didn’t have the exclusive rights for the first time in years. The official broadcast was handled by BTS Brasil instead. Yet despite having to stream with a delay, fans overwhelmingly stuck with Gaules, showing just how powerful creator loyalty can be in the Brazilian community.
English-Speaking Market: The Steady Climb
While English-speaking viewers have been slower to embrace co-streaming, the trend is unmistakable. Co-streamers’ share has grown from under 10% to around 30% in recent years.
Mark “Ohnepixel” Zimmermann stands out as the most influential English-language co-streamer, having accumulated over 13.3 million Hours Watched across recent Majors—more than some entire official broadcast channels! His appeal bridges the competitive CS community and the case-opening/skin collecting audience.
Erik “fl0m” Flom, a veteran CS player and streamer, has also built a substantial following with his deep game knowledge and engaging commentary style.
What Makes Co-Streamers So Appealing?
Why are millions of viewers choosing community creators over professional broadcasts? A few reasons come to mind:
- Personality-driven content: Co-streamers bring their unique personalities and perspectives
- Community interaction: Most respond directly to chat, creating a more engaging viewing experience
- Casual atmosphere: Less formal than official broadcasts, with more humor and candid reactions
- Cultural relevance: Many speak the language of their audience in more relatable ways
- Flexible format: Freedom to focus on aspects most interesting to their specific audience
Looking Ahead to Austin
The BLAST.tv Austin Major presents some interesting challenges and opportunities for co-streamers. With the event taking place in North America, European viewers will be dealing with less-than-ideal viewing hours. This opens questions about how the viewership will be distributed:
- Will North American creators seize this opportunity to grow their audience?
- How will European co-streamers adapt to the time difference?
- Will the official broadcast reclaim some viewership due to production advantages?
One thing’s certain: co-streaming is no longer just a complementary feature—it’s a central pillar of Counter-Strike’s esports ecosystem. The community-driven approach to broadcasting has democratized how we experience these tournaments, giving fans more choices than ever before.
Whether you’re planning to watch the Austin Major through the polished official broadcast or with your favorite creator’s commentary, the upcoming tournament promises to deliver unforgettable Counter-Strike action. The countdown is on!
What’s your preferred way to watch Counter-Strike tournaments? Do you stick with the official broadcast or follow a particular co-streamer? Let us know in the comments below!
