YouTube launches 360° live streaming
Michelle Clancy | 20 April 2016
YouTube has launched 360° live streaming, along with spatial audio for on-demand YouTube videos.
The online video juggernaut first launched support for 360° videos back in March 2015, and is now expanding access for content creators. It has been working with companies like VideoStitch and Two Big Ears to make their software compatible with 360° live streams or spatial audio on YouTube and at all YouTube Space locations around the globe.
It kicked off the launch with coverage of the Coachella Festival by live streaming select artist performances in 360°.
“Just as watching a concert in 360° can give you an unmatched immersive experience, spatial audio allows you to listen along as you do in real life, where depth, distance and intensity all play a role,” said Neal Mohan, chief product officer at YouTube, in a blog.
He added: “What excites me most about 360° storytelling is that it lets us open up the world's experiences to everyone. Students can now experience news events in the classroom as they unfold. Travellers can experience faraway sites and explorers can deep-sea dive, all without the physical constraints of the real world. And today's kids dreaming of going to a basketball game or a concert can access those experiences firsthand, even if they're far away from the court. What were once limited experiences are now available to anyone, anywhere, at any time.”