Business

Bezos strikes $1 billion deal for gaming startup Twitch

Jeff Bezos’ controversial spending streak is far from over.

The Amazon boss struck his biggest deal ever by paying $970 for gaming startup Twitch. Including stock compensation for employees, the total tab will top $1 billion, Stewart Alsop, a Twitch investor and director, told The Post.

Twitch, which launched in 2011, is devoted to live streaming of people playing video games. It is such a popular spectator sport that Twitch boasted 55 million unique visitors and more than 15 billion minutes of content in July. In terms of total volume of Web traffic, Twitch was ranked No. 1 in April by broadband data tracking firm Qwilt.

“Broadcasting and watching gameplay is a global phenomenon,” Bezos said in statement.

Nevertheless, the deal comes amid growing frustration from investors over Amazon’s massive spending.

The company’s stock tanked in late July after Amazon reported its largest loss in two years while expenses soared 24 percent, including a 40 percent jump in tech spending.

This year alone, Amazon has announced a new television set-top box, called Fire TV, and a new smartphone.

The company has also been moving into grocery delivery, mobile payments and Netflix-style original programming.

Amazon shares, which closed at $334.02 in during the regular session, were little changed in late trades after the deal was announced.

Twitch is expected to remain a stand-alone entity led by its 30-year-old CEO Emmett Shear, according to Alsop.

Google had been in talks to acquire Twitch but those fizzled.