Live streaming events as a social trend

Live streaming events as a social trend. Image credit: AdobeStock

Live streaming events as a social trend

(Partner Content) Video is a very powerful media and marketing tool that uses pictures, sound, and motion to connect with the viewer.

Live streaming events as a social trend

Live streaming events as a social trend. Image credit: AdobeStock

It offers a lot of creative freedom, and opportunities to be unique and distinctive. At the same time, more than ever before, recording video content is a mainstream trend. 

Pre-recorded videos are usually edited, often with many cuts, but offer clear delivery, free from technical issues. Live stream technology enables creating and sharing of video content in real time. For the audience, making this type of direct social interaction within the digital environment seems more natural and organic. Whether private or public streaming, all creators need is a tablet or smartphone and streaming platform, and they are ready to stream. In the last two years, due to the limited mobility, the popularity of streaming platforms Zoom and Google Meet exploded and made these and other similar services indispensable. Meanwhile, many video content creators on YouTube shifted their modus operandi and embraced direct communication with their audience for more personal sharing of information, thoughts, and ideas.

Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/girl-holding-acoustic-guitar-waving-hand-on-smartphone-8189632/

Statistics and options

Since 2019 live streaming has grown so fast, it even took some experts by surprise. It’s expected that, by 2028, this market will reach almost $224 billion worth. Since it’s more than obvious that this type of communication will last, the latest predictions claim that 82% of whole internet use in 2022 will be video streaming. Anticipation for mobile users says that 79% will choose streaming over other services.

In 2019, 7 out of 10 people who prefer streaming joined at least one live event daily. Nowadays, this ratio is even higher. Age-wise, millennials are leading the way, as 63% of regular live content consumers are 18 to 34 years old.

Due to the changes that affected the planet, music events, festivals, and concerts were largely streamed which made it possible for the worldwide audience to enjoy favorite music live, in the safety and comfort of their homes. The 2020 Wacken World Wide festival was streamed for four days and had 11 million views. Famous Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli’s concert, held in Milan, Italy was exclusively streamed via YouTube and in its peak reached 2.8 million views.

Besides music, video games, and social media content, live stream features were used for various events, lectures, conferences, school and university education, business, museum tours, sports events, and theater performances. It’s safe to predict that in the future more options will emerge and most probably make live video content even more popular.

Live stream events transmission requires a substantial amount of bandwidth. If the viewer’s bandwidth availability is not sufficient, it could heavily influence the quality of the experience. However, this technology has a bright future as its pros outweigh the cons by far.

At the moment, streaming platforms are focused on enabling creators to have more control over the live stream performances and therefore reach a bigger audience. With the assistance of online video analytics broadcasters can evaluate effectiveness, have better insight and receive more relevant information about the number of viewers and other streaming targets.

Speaking of benefits, live streaming can be produced even with a very low budget while the audience can often enjoy it for free. These days, health is a number one priority, and nothing can be safer than attending the concert from a distance. 

Direct engagement is one of the biggest live stream benefits. Younger generations are particularly fond of it and appreciate the opportunity to have real time communication with their favorite creator. 

Finally, live stream content can be transferred into a blog and published, turned into an infographic, or reproduced as a video on social media platforms.