YouTube was the first platform to ever offer video streaming. Except that it was not in fact live video streaming. As a front runner in the video arena you would think that the world’s largest video platform would have indeed already adapted live video streaming capabilities. At VidCon this year the Google-owned entity made a public announcement regarding its new live video streaming feature coming to the YouTube mobile app.
Live video streaming capabilities are not really that new to YouTube though. Technically speaking the live video streaming feature has been available since 2011 when everyone tuned in to watch the Royal Wedding. Then in 2012 nearly one-sixth of the internet watched the daredevil Felix Baumgartner set a new world record in skydiving from outer space. In 2016 YouTube was the first to broadcast a 360-degree live stream directly from the popular Coachella music festival. Over 21 million people were dialed into the stream for the experience. That equates to nearly twice the amount of people who watched the American Idol finale. Quite mesmerizing if I must say so.
The Young Turks, AIB, Platica Polinesia, SacconeJolys, and Alex Wassabi were amongst some of the acts that helped debut the YouTube live video streaming capabilities at the 2016 Coachella music festival. What a great way to introduce the new feature that will soon be available directly within the YouTube mobile app. Yes, soon. As it stands YouTube live video streaming is unavailable. Bummer! I guess we should await patiently until it is rolled out publicly to all YouTube users. That timeframe though is yet to be defined though.
Judging by the look and feel of the new live streaming capabilities it appears that YouTube is emulating Periscope and Facebook live video. The craziness of live video is on the uprise and perhaps it was about time for the Google-owned entity to get in on the action. I believe that YouTube live video streaming will provide reach to millions of viewers and enhanced exposure. Not quite yet convinced that it can compete directly with its Facebook rival though. I guess that we will have to wait and see how things pan out in the near future.
The YouTube live video streaming feature remains unavailable to public users. As of the time of this post I happened to check my App Store updates with hope of finding a YouTube app update with live streaming video capabilities. Unfortunately I was sadly mistaken and disappointed. What a way for YouTube to generate hype to fail to deliver. I guess we wait patiently for the public rollout of YouTube live video streaming capabilities.
You can get the full scoop on YouTube live video streaming features via the official blog post.