Social Broadcasting is Booming
Worldwide lockdowns created nothing short of a perfect storm for do-it-yourself video content and a further boost to the profile of ‘social broadcasting’.
So what is social broadcasting? It can be summarised as video and audio delivered by individuals that bypasses the traditional broadcast vehicles (radio, print or TV) and makes use of new technologies, such as social media, to deliver this content to the intended audience.
The video side of social broadcasting is most commonly associated with live streaming – a format that has experienced electrifying year-on-year growth with the help of platforms like Twitch and Instagram Live. The pandemic has proven a catalyst for further expansion at Amazon-owned streaming giant Twitch. Twitch is now said to hold a substantial 76% of the live-streaming market. It’s often the first platform that comes to mind when anyone mentions Esports. But Twitch’s long term strategy doesn’t just focus on gaming and social broadcasting – which has been further confirmed by their broadcasting of several Premier League matches back in July. Twitch has also experienced terrific growth with more mainstream, casual content. You can find the majority of this content within the ‘Just Chatting’ category – where you can view and interact with thousands of streamers talking about any manner of subject – whether it be trending topics, politics, food, music and much more. Instagram Live already excels at this type of casual, ‘pick up your phone and stream’ content – It’s the very definition of social broadcasting, and offers up audiences a unique opportunity to interact with streamers and other viewers.
But it’s not just live streaming. Video news content is a form of social broadcasting that can be produced and deployed from a smartphone onto YouTube in a matter of seconds. Forget that breaking news announcement on your TV – the very first place you’ll hear about developing news is often through social media. It’s prevalent on YouTube home pages, where you can find the traditional mega news corporations featured alongside independent content creators. As of 2019, it was reported that 49% of adults used social media for their news consumption (Ofcom, 2019). Reliance on up-to-date news has skyrocketed during the uncertainty of this pandemic – which would suggest that this figure is likely much higher now. In turn, DIY content creators are compelled to voice their opinions and share news quickly and easily on various platforms, like Twitter. Late 2019 and 2020 even saw corporations like Sky News join in with the fun on platforms like Snapchat, expanding their operations above and beyond the traditional channels and embracing short-form, ‘snackable’ content.
There’s no denying that video has long been the most profound way of creating content and getting your message out there. In recent years, producing and distributing video content has been made effortlessly accessible. Social media platform algorithms on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are now designed to push and promote your video content. Ultimately, video helps you to get your word out and increase your reach on a multi-platform scale, and can open up unique revenue streams along the way. What are you waiting for?
Whether you’re a religious institution looking to provide live streamed sermons, or an organised group of car enthusiasts looking to provide some additional content to members, you can really benefit from the rise of social broadcasting. At PlayBox Technology, we have been assisting start-ups and established organisations alike with the move to live streaming across social media. With Cosmos, our cloud-based streaming solution, or AirBox (part of our Channel in a Box solution), your content can be pre-scheduled or immediately published directly to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook Live, your website – wherever your audience is. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.