YouTube Reaction Window: 2-24 hours. YouTube's algorithm responds slower than Twitch but the reaction is more durable.

What this means in practice:

• Live streams that perform well during broadcast continue to gain discovery via VOD/replay traffic for 24+ hours
• Shorts feeder content amplifies live broadcasts on a delayed but compounding basis
• Subscribed audiences receive notifications based on YouTube's preference algorithm, not immediate broadcast event

Tactical implication:

• Don't expect immediate browse-page boosts during the broadcast itself
• Optimize for VOD-replay value: produce content that's compelling to watch back after live ends
• Strong Shorts the day before a live broadcast prime the algorithm for that broadcast's discovery
• Title and thumbnail matter more on YouTube because most discovery comes from CTR on the stream listing, not browse-page autoplay

The structural opportunity: YouTube rewards content craft and long-tail compounding. A broadcast that's well-titled, well-thumbnailed, and produces engaging VOD continues paying off in discovery for weeks. Twitch broadcasts decay in algorithmic value almost immediately after they end.