Live streaming service is the latest trend these days that enables individual viewers to view live video on their personal computer systems. This is done through the use of the internet. With live video streaming or webcast, it is now possible to view anything and everything from anywhere in the world. Whether you are wanting to broadcast a live show or sports event, industry fights, product releases, educational videos, or hobbies, live video streaming makes it possible to reach out to the majority of people throughout the entire world. For instance, let’s say you wanted to watch Roger Federer competing in the Semi Finals of Wimbledon, but you’re stuck in the office where your employers aren’t available to let you take an hour’s lunch break. But all is not lost, you can still enjoy it. Another example is if you have it written in your calendar but have forgotten. Here, live video streaming can offer solutions to all those issues as it allows you to view the match in its entirety online. Streaming live videos is the next big thing in the computing world and the majority of enterprises and services are taking advantage of this up-to-date technology. Whether it is for broadcasting a mega event or showcasing an intensive advertising campaign, live streaming service is the approach to go. With access to services such as pre-recorded videos, interactive and non-interactive interfaces, and chat, users are guaranteed to have a satisfying viewing experience.
The Rise of Live Streaming Services
Moreover, the cost of software and hardware required to live stream has decreased in recent times, and as a result, there has been a large increase in the number of content producers providing a diverse range of content. Websites such as Twitch and YouTube have allowed for a new generation of gamers to become content producers as well as players. The availability of free-to-use software such as Open Broadcaster Software has also lowered the bar for entry to aspiring content producers, and as the quality of internet infrastructure has improved, there has been a lot of experimentation in the quality of content.
Although the concept of live streaming has been around for some time, it has only been in recent years since it has become a viable business opportunity. This has largely been attributed to the advancements in technology, particularly the growth in digital and mobile devices. Many services offer on-the-go streaming, providing entertainment to users through their mobile and tablet devices as long as they have an internet connection. This is an attractive feature for many, as it allows them to watch their favorite shows while away from home.
Impact on Entertainment Consumption Habits
In a recent study conducted by Shift Project, online video streaming was reported to accumulate more than 60% of internet traffic in North America and expected to rise over the next few years. With the rise of internet traffic, there is a decline in DVD and cable television subscriptions. Entertainment company Netflix, reported in the same study, has reached approximately 60 million subscribers in the US after their international expansion on January 2016. At its growth rate, Netflix and online streaming services are on the route to replace traditional cable television. An article even suggests online streaming and on demand services will replace cable television much sooner.
Live streaming and video on demand services continue to develop and innovate the home entertainment market. The conveniences of live streaming and video on demand services have attracted consumers as an easier alternative to traditional television viewing by accommodating the viewers’ schedules and providing an unlimited range of content in one location.
Future Trends in Live Streaming
The section continues to a paragraph about an interesting niche market for old gaming. This could involve more gaming on older platforms, but it is also feasible that the game streaming could simulate the look of an old TV. This would be an interesting contrast to the HD video resolution for modern gaming. The future of live streaming will involve a lot more interaction with viewers. With things like Twitch Plays Pokemon, where there is input from the chat affecting the game, live streaming could offer an entirely new form of reality TV. This would even bring possibilities for new genres of game shows. MMO games could potentially host live battle royale-style events with large cash prizes, which would be like the Hunger Games for the viewers at home. A good level of viewer interaction is key. Currently, live streaming is very isolated from on-demand video. On-demand video is convenient, but if a live stream is missed, it can mean potentially missing out on content generation. Live streaming with content that has a lasting effect on the game, such as an MMO event, is a very useful replacement for conventional TV scheduling. The technology is already there to pause a live stream and save it for later, but have the chat windows and data from when the game was being streamed. Viewers will always want to feel that they are part of the experience. An example of this is an interview with a game developer, which could be much more engaging if the viewers could submit questions for the developer. The development of new reality augmented interfaces for live streaming will allow people to view streams based on the relevance of content to what they are looking for, with flexibility to switch between a live stream and recent stream archives. The idea here is to make it easier for people to find and want to watch live streaming.
Future trends in live streaming focus on where technology and viewers’ habits are likely to take live streaming in the future. This section starts by discussing the future of live streaming, which is in the hands of cloud-based gaming. Cloud-based gaming has the ability to change how we view and interact with video games. Not only is it important to the future of gaming, but it also seems to hold a lot of value for live streaming. Games could be run on a farm of servers, and the video output is sent to your device, allowing even people with low-spec PCs to play high-end games. A lot of money could be invested in cloud-based gaming technology, and it means higher quality video output from games with potential for eSports events and game streaming to be a lot more common. This would mean that live streaming would no longer just be gamers using OBS software and Twitch. Game developers can implement a streaming feature to allow people to watch their game in a similar style to a let’s play.
