YouTube live streaming gets its biggest update yet
What's the story
YouTube has announced a major update for its live streaming service, the biggest upgrade in its history. The new features, revealed at the Made on YouTube event, include simultaneous horizontal and vertical streams, AI-powered livestream highlights, and mobile livestream reactions to other live YouTube content. The updates are aimed at attracting more users to the platform's livestreamed content.
User experience
Simultaneous horizontal and vertical streams
The update now allows creators to stream in both horizontal and vertical formats simultaneously. This will give viewers a more optimized experience on both mobile and desktop platforms. A single unified chat room will also be available, allowing viewers to interact with each other regardless of their viewing format. YouTube is currently testing this feature and plans to roll it out to more creators in the coming months.
Advanced features
Real-time reactions and AI-powered highlights
The update also includes a feature that lets creators react in real-time to eligible livestreams on YouTube. This will let streamers go live on mobile alongside content like live events and keynote announcements. YouTube plans to start testing this feature early next year. Further, creators will get AI-powered livestream highlights that automatically turn stream clips into Shorts in the coming weeks.
Monetization tools
Other notable updates for creators
YouTube is also rolling out a feature for creators with channel memberships, allowing them to switch between public and members-only livestreams. This could encourage viewers to become paying channel members to avoid missing out on exclusive content. Ads currently shown beside YouTube livestreams on desktop and TV will also be coming to mobile devices later this year.
Creator support
YouTube's new features could help it compete with Twitch
Aaron Filner, YouTube's senior director of product management, said in a blog post that these features are "grounded in community feedback" and designed to help creators get discovered, grow their channel, and increase their earnings. The updates come as a relief for live stream content creators on the platform after a long focus on Shorts. It remains to be seen if these changes will help YouTube compete with dedicated live streaming platforms like Twitch.