It is safe to say that livestreaming has been changing our everyday lives in more than one way over the past few years. And we’re not talking about how sports events are broadcasted live on TV, but rather how we are streaming all sorts of events on the web in real-time – from watching our friends’ personal day on social media to attending massive concerts virtually. While subscription-based video-on-demand platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime have already revolutionized the way we watch TV and movies, livestreaming is set on doing the same in other areas. Here are three industries that have been changing and evolving by using livestreaming technology.
Gaming
Livestreaming has helped the gaming industry gain massive traction over the past decade – and continues to do so. It is hard to imagine gaming would have become such a big global hit had it not been for livestreaming. Already in the early 2010s, the technology allowed gamers from around the world to stream their gaming sessions live online for fellow gamers to watch and participate by chatting with the streamer and the community. This didn’t only help the global gaming community connect, it also helped spark the rise of esports, which has by now developed into a global billion-dollar industry.
This, however, is not the only area in which livestreaming has been changing the gaming industry. The technology has also allowed game developers to create new experiences. One great example that shows this is the i-gaming sector. With the help of the internet, gambling has become increasingly popular as it is more easily accessible no matter where you are. To make it easier for players to play and bet online, experts such as from https://www.asiabet.org/ create guides and write reviews on the best gambling sites. Some of these offer so-called live-dealer games, which use livestreaming technology to create an immersive gaming experience. By streaming a real dealer live onto the player’s screen, this technology brings the atmosphere into the user’s living room.
Retail
Does anyone still remember the shopping channels that were especially popular in the 80s before online shopping was a thing? Back then, usually overly enthusiastic hosts presented different kinds of products on TV, and watchers could call the channel and make a purchase over the phone. With the rise of the internet and platforms such as https://www.amazon.com/, home shopping moved onto the internet and those shopping channels on TV mostly died out. Nobody would have probably expected those channels to return, but right now teleshopping is seeing a renaissance: thanks to livestreaming.
Livestream shopping is already a massive trend in China and is currently making its way to the rest of the world. This kind of e-commerce has essentially translated the concept of shopping channels into the 21st century. But now, hosts are usually famous influencers, who are presenting all sorts of products such as clothes or cosmetics live online. Anyone can tune in to join the live shopping event and use the chat function to ask questions or share their opinion. To make a purchase, you don’t have to call a number anymore, you can simply click on the item within the livestream and purchase it online directly. This interactive, direct, and entertaining way of shopping online is gaining traction and set to change the face of the retail industry for good.
Events
This is probably the most obvious one: the event industry has been reaping the benefits of livestreaming technology to bring all sorts of events to a wider audience. Especially over the past year, the development of livestreamed events has been making major headway, with lots of events broadcast live on the web. All sorts of events can now be attended online, from festivals and concerts to conferences and fairs. For instance, YouTube has been streaming the massive music festival Coachella live from California for people around the globe to attend online. 2019 YouTube’s Coachella livestream generated more than 80 million live views, while the event in Indo, California, welcomed 99,000 visitors a day.
Since then, livestreamed events have been going through the roof, with many concert halls around the globe streaming live from their stages. This allows music fans from all over the world to experience the London Symphony Orchestra, virtually visit the Metropolitan Opera in New York or listen in on the Berliner Philharmoniker in Germany from the comfort of their homes. Another major trend in this area is livestreaming concerts within video games. Major music stars such as DJ Marshmello, rapper Travis Scott and singer-songwriter Ariana Grande have held virtual concerts within the video game Fortnite. Millions of gamers and fans from around the world tuned in to see the virtual avatar version of their idol on the in-game stage.
Livestreaming has been connecting people from all over the world in many different ways, while drastically changing more than one industry along the way. From livestreamed games to livestream shopping and live online events – livestreaming technology has had a major impact on our lives and continues to do so.
