BANGKOK, Thailand – TikTok LIVE brought together more than 1,000 leaders from creator networks, partners and livestreaming businesses worldwide at the Creator Networks Global Summit in Thailand in September, highlighting the rapid professionalisation of the global livestreaming industry. The event examined how livestreaming is evolving from a social media feature into a major entertainment and income platform, with creators increasingly building professional careers through real-time interaction with audiences and virtual gifting.
More than 240 million livestream creators
Claire Lee, Head of LIVE Creator Networks, Product & Strategy at TikTok, said livestreaming has become an important form of entertainment because it allows audiences to interact directly with creators and participate in shared experiences. The global entertainment livestreaming market is projected to reach US$200 billion, or about 6.7 trillion baht, by 2030.
More than 240 million creators livestreamed on TikTok in 2025, nearly double the number from the previous year, reflecting growing demand for real-time entertainment and interaction.
An important part of that growth is the rise of creator networks. These businesses do more than manage creators. They provide business support, skills development and strategic guidance throughout a creator’s career.
Creator networks expand rapidly
There were more than 21,000 creator networks worldwide in 2025, around three times the previous year’s figure. Together, they supported more than 4.7 million livestream creators, compared with about 2.4 million in 2024. The number of creator networks generating at least US$1 million in revenue also increased 1.8 times. Southeast Asia has emerged as one of the fastest-growing regions for creator networks. About 25% of the world’s creator networks are based in the region, while around one in three livestream creators in Southeast Asia receives support from a creator network.
These networks provide assistance ranging from production and digital storytelling to professional development, while helping creators produce content suited to local cultures and audiences.
Networks deliver stronger creator performance TikTok’s latest report, TikTok LIVE Creator Networks: Fueling the Next Wave of Industry Growth, highlights the growing role of these businesses in developing creator skills and improving content quality.
In 2025, creators working with networks livestreamed 20% more frequently and spent twice as much time livestreaming compared with other creators. They also generated 10 times more revenue.
Creator networks currently support only about 2% of creators on the platform, yet those creators account for 36% of TikTok LIVE’s gifting revenue. The figures indicate significant room for further growth, with the remaining 98% of livestream creators representing a large potential market for network businesses.
Different models emerge worldwide
Creator networks have developed through several different models in international markets.
Some were established by creators who expanded their own careers by creating agencies to manage and train other livestreamers. Others developed from multi-channel networks, or MCNs, which act as intermediaries supporting creators across social media platforms. One example is a creator network referred to as K, which began building its operations in Asia and the Middle East before entering the US market in 2023. It now has more than 3,000 creators and generates six-figure monthly revenue.
The network’s approach includes real-time monitoring of individual creator performance, allowing training programmes to be tailored to specific needs. Its understanding of local teams also enables smoother cooperation across markets.
Vietnam has also become a prominent Southeast Asian market for creator networks. One Vietnamese network that passed international standards testing has nearly 300 employees and supports more than 50,000 livestream creators worldwide. It focuses on developing new creators and Gen Z idols. Thailand is still developing its creator network model, but more creators are beginning to establish their own agencies. One example is Pang Ronnakorn Hengkhurongroj, owner of the @unpunkman channel, who founded P-PUNG Agency to train new livestream creators. The agency now has more than 500 members.
TikTok focuses on trust and professional development
Lee said TikTok is focusing on building confidence in LIVE as a platform that can support creators and creator businesses over the long term. This includes clearer approaches to ecosystem management, safety rules and monetisation, together with skills development and professional standards.
TikTok is also encouraging creators to improve their livestreaming frequency, real-time audience interaction, production quality and personal branding across areas including music, dance, gaming and education. The platform is developing LIVE Bax, an AI-powered assistant connected directly to LIVE Backstage. The tool is designed to make daily operations and performance monitoring more efficient, reducing the time needed to analyse data and helping creators and their teams plan livestreams, manage production and develop their capabilities.
TikTok LIVE says it will continue supporting creators and partners through new technology, professional skills development and measures designed to build a trusted livestreaming ecosystem.
The company sees creator networks as an increasingly important part of that ecosystem, connecting creators with the training, business support and expertise needed to build sustainable careers as the global livestreaming industry continues to expand.
