Liz Gannes

Recent Posts by Liz Gannes

No Longer Just Video, Livestream Turns Into Live Events Coverage Platform

Whether it’s a liveblog (particularly of an Apple keynote) or a live video stream (especially from a concert or sports competition), there is massive online demand for live event coverage. Livestream, which has traditionally focused on streaming video, has revamped its platform to help event producers publish real-time photos, text updates and video clips, along with high-definition live video.

Live video sites are usually terribly basic — just a straight video player with some text chat next to it — noted Livestream CEO Max Haot on Wednesday. In addition to providing more of an interactive storytelling experience, Haot said he’s hoping to lure users away from liveblogging tools like CoveritLive.

I doubt there are legions of underserved livebloggers in the world, but Haot argued that more detailed coverage will make for better experiences of any sort of event, from a conference to a concert to the Occupy Wall Street protests.

New York City-based Livestream is also trying to make its Web site more of a social destination, allowing users to subscribe to channels and see updates in a feed. Haot said those notifications aren’t yet available through RSS feed or API. The new Livestream will also include support for DVR functionality, which has traditionally been annoyingly absent from live Web video.

Livestream doesn’t have mobile content production tools yet, but Haot said iOS and mobile Web support is coming in December.

The Volvo Ocean Race will use the new Livestream platform to provide live offshore sailing-race coverage, starting this weekend.

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