'YouTube Live' goes Live

Web Trends Blogs

By Salar Golestanian @ Saturday, April 09, 2011 :: 9:39 PM :: 548 Views :: 0 Comments ::

YouTube with Google Behind it has been growing steadily in recent years and now it has over 2 Billion views a day. However it has been all about viewing a video that is recorded in the past. Now YouTube has announced the initial roll out of YouTube Live which will integrate live streaming capabilities and discovery tools.

YouTube has also started to gradually roll out their live streaming beta platform, which will allow certain YouTube partners with accounts in good standing to stream live content on YouTube. Right now it is not obvious how to become a YouTube partner. But I would assume to broadcast effectively; one must have the capability to live stream from their channel. For example we just upgraded our broadband to Optical cable from the standard twisted wire ADSL and therefore, I have up to 10 MB Upload capability. This high bandwidth would allow extremely high quality programme to go to YouTube to be streamed live.

One obvious application is to broadcast live Conferences, Sport and other events that are more global in nature. These events may not have so much of immediate local interest to get the local broadcasters to bring in their expensive gear to broadcast. For example in June I am presenting in webconnections and this event is a pan European event that has much interest in wider Europe and therefore a live broadcast of the keynote speech and sessions is very much appreciated if shown live over YouTube live. The main issue with broadcasting such event, is that the bandwidth available at the location is normally not so good. At best they make available an ADSL with 1/2 mb upload speed which is not enough for a good uninterrupted live broadcast.

Currently there are number of such providers like Ustream, Livestream, Justin.tv and Stickam in this area. I don’t think addition of YouTube will do much damage as the market is huge and the only limitation right now is technology and bandwidth availability.