This week ad VidCon YouTube announced it will be adding live streaming capabilities to the company’s mobile app. At first, the feature will be reserved for select YouTubers, but a wider release is expected to be coming in the future.
This is a huge step up in the right direction for YouTube, currently only offering live streaming to those with verified channels using the Creator Studio. Live streaming via the mobile app makes the feature much more accessible, and has the potential to lead to a wider variety of interesting content for viewers.
A separate app will not be needed, as the capability will be built right into the core YouTube mobile app. Getting a live stream on the air is as easy as tapping a red button on the bottom right-hand side of the screen.
When beginning a live broadcast, there will be an option to notify subscribers of the channel that the creator is on the air. There will also be options to allow chat functionality, as well as change the viewing restrictions from public to private. Once the stream is completed it will be available to watch at any time in the creator’s YouTube channel.
With Facebook and Twitter both making waves in the live video space, it was only a matter of time before YouTube got into it as well. YouTube’s greatest challenge now is to compete with those companies and to convince live streamers to make YouTube their platform of choice for broadcasting. One competitive advantage YouTube has is that it has always been about video, and already has an established a loyal base of both creators and viewers.
Live streaming capabilities will first be made available to the following YouTube channels: The Young Turks, AIB, Platica Polinesia, SacconeJoyls, and Alex Wassabi. Live videos can be both created and viewed on all mobile platforms where the YouTube app is currently available.
