Huya Live

Huya Live

(Chinese)

(Global)
Type of site
Live streaming, streaming video
Available inSimplified Chinese
Traded asNYSEHUYA
Area servedChina
Worldwide (as Nimo TV)
OwnerTencent (67.3% as of 31 March 2025)
URLwww.huya.com
www.nimo.tv (outside China)
CommercialYes
Launched24 November 2014 (2014-11-24)
Current statusActive
Huya Live
Chinese虎牙直播
Literal meaningTiger's Tooth Livestream
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHǔyá Zhíbò

Huya Live (Chinese: 虎牙直播) is a Chinese video live streaming platform focused on video games and esports, operated by Huya Inc. (NYSE: HUYA). It is one of China’s two largest game live‑streaming services alongside DouYu and carries official esports broadcasts as well as user‑generated streams.[1] Huya Inc. is controlled by Tencent Holdings Limited. Outside mainland China, the service operates in selected overseas markets under the Nimo TV brand.[2]

History

On 24 November 2014, it was announced that YY.com's video streaming service would begin operating independently as Huya Live.[3]

On 4 January 2018, Riot Games gave Huya Live exclusive rights to broadcast the LCK, South Korea's professional esports league for League of Legends, in China.[4] The same was done for the LCS and LEC on 20 January 2020, the equivalent leagues in North America and Europe respectively.[5][6]

Since 11 May 2018, HUYA Inc.'s American Depositary Shares (ADSs) have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange, under the symbol "HUYA."[7]

Huya had 150 million monthly active users at the start of 2019.[8]

In April 2020, Tencent became the largest shareholder of Huya, having increased its voting power to 50.1% which reduced JOYY's voting stake from 55.5% to 43%.[9] As of 31 March 2025, Tencent beneficially owned 67.3% of Huya's total issued and outstanding share capital and had voting power of 95.4%.[10]

The mobile app of Huya was banned in India (along with other Chinese apps) on 2 September 2020 by the government amid the 2020 China-India skirmish.[11][12]

In 2024, Huya's game-related services, advertising and other revenues accounted for 21.9% of its total net revenues, up from 7.8% in 2023.[13]

References

  1. ^ Wu, Kane; Horwitz, Josh; Leng, Cheng (10 July 2021). "Chinese antitrust regulator blocks Tencent's $5.3 bln video games merger". Reuters. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  2. ^ "Form 20-F Huya Inc". www.sec.gov. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  3. ^ 种昂 (1 February 2018). "虎牙直播改道上市 背后玄机引发业界猜疑". 经济观察网 (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  4. ^ "虎牙直播将独播LCK2018春季赛". Techweb (in Chinese (China)). 4 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2 May 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  5. ^ Esguerra, Tyler (20 January 2020). "Huya becomes newest exclusive LCS and LEC broadcaster in China". Dot Esports. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  6. ^ Murray, Trent (20 January 2020). "Huya Secures Chinese Broadcast Rights for LCS, LEC". The Esports Observer. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Chinese game live-streaming site Huya makes NYSE debut - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  8. ^ Huang, Zheping (7 January 2019). "'China's Twitch' Huya surpasses 100 million users despite content crackdown". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  9. ^ Sun, Leo. "Tencent Gains Control of Huya: What Does This Mean for JOYY?". NASDAQ. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Huya Investor Relations SEC Filings". Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Government Bans 118 mobile apps which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order" (Press release). Government of India. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  12. ^ Yasir, Sameer; Kumar, Hari (2 September 2020). "India Bans 118 Chinese Apps as Indian Soldier Is Killed on Disputed Border". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  13. ^ Seck, Tobias (18 March 2025). "Huya Q4 Earnings Reflect a Strategic Shift Amid Revenue Transformation". The Esports Advocate. Retrieved 5 June 2025.