Youtube Live
Youtube has been providing a great community to promote and foster many talents, which eventually become internet superstars. Up until now, it was a genuine online platform and nothing else. But this will change on November 22, 2008, when Youtube Live will be held in San Francisco and in Tokyo on Nov. 23. Youtube Live is the platform’s first official live community celebration event that will host well-known artists like Will.I.Am and Kate Perry, as well as Youtube-made stars such as Julia Nunes and Esmee Denters.
Caroline McCarthy write on CNET News, “YouTube co-founder Steve Chen announced earlier this year that live video would be coming to YouTube later in 2008, but several months later, there were scattered rumors that those plans had been scrapped. An event like YouTube Live would indicate that live streaming is indeed still on track–though the company has not yet said anything about further live-video plans or whether the streaming will be handled through a partnership with one of the many start-ups that specialize in it.”
Margaret Wappler is not very sure if Youtube Live is a good idea. She asks in her L.A. Times music blog, “So, when do all the other online communities, Facebook, Bebo, et al, start throwing their own concerts? YouTube plans to live-stream this show but somehow, I don’t think that would work so well for Twitter. Set up instruments (9:58 p.m.). Play awesome show (10:45 p.m.) Hang out in green room, drinking beer (12:02 a.m.).”
Good question. Still, I think it was a good move. First of all, live-streaming is becoming more and more popular, especially thanks to better internet connections. Hahetame commented on Silicon Alley Insider, ”I love live streaming. I can watch any NFL or English Premiere League game via live streaming sites.” Many of my friends, who travel for work or studies, miss watching their favorite TV channels and are more than happy to watch them online through a stream. I usually watch N-TV, a German news channel, online when I’m on the road. If CNN had a live-stream, it’d be on 24/7 on my computer. Fortunately, I can usually use Zattoo for live-streaming TV.
Youtube has given a great value to the entertainment world and to community thinking. People start being creative because they see others creating something with little effort on standard computers. They interact and help each other out. They compete, but in a healthy way. It is not about creating something for oneself anymore. Now, it is about creating something to share with others. “The value of YouTube is we’ve created this platform that’s been driven by the community, so this is in reaction to that,” said YouTube spokesman Chris Di Cesare “Having a community event that the community values benefits all involved.”
