How live-streaming is affecting the broadcasting medium spectrum Ensaio
JOSÉ CLIVE RODRIGUES CASTRO
[email protected]
Faculdade de Letras
Media e Sociedade
INDEX
INDEX ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 3 DEVELOPMENT.............................................................................................................................................. 4 CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................................... 11 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND WEBOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 12
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INTRODUCTION Studying journalism, I find it very important to focus at the concurrent medium spectrum, as a young adult it is obvious that our lives are connected into the depths of cyberworld and with that our focus as members of society changes. The offspring of mutations on the Internet are rapidly multiplying we cannot deny evolution and so we cannot reject adaptation. With the introduction of the digital world a swarm of broadcasting possibilities have emerged, and this is conceivable with just a click of a smart phone the possibility of connecting yourself to the world digitally. According to the online dictionary Merriam Webster the definition of streaming “relating to or being the transfer of data (such as audio or video material) in a continuous stream especially for immediate processing or playback”.1 With a plethora of online platforms hosting an agglomerate of content creators, the current generation tends to incline to this form of broadcast. Live-streaming could be the next step to Streaming, the possibility of watching or re-watching digital media is not enough, we feel the urge to now interact with what we consume and debate it with others that are watching at the same time. Not only independent or freelancer journalists are converging into this phenomenon now called Mobile Journalism, also Traditional news agencies (the press) are also adapting this new form of transmitting information. Although traditional journalism is still a more reliable source due to its authenticity in todays standards it may be considered to have a slow propagation compared to its counterpart.2 To the untrained eye live streaming may look like just immediate video coverage with an instant feed add-on, but it is much more. So how is the current trend of Live-streaming affecting the broadcast media spectrum?
MERRIAM, W. [online] Merriam Webster – Streaming. Available from: . [May 26, 2018] 2 UMAIR, S. 2016. Mobile Reporting and Journalism for Media Trends, News Transmission and its Authenticity. Journal of Mass Communication & Journalism, 6(9) [Accessed on 25/06/2018]. https://doi.org/10.4172/21657912.1000323 1
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DEVELOPMENT
Before diving into the concept of live the foundations must be discussed. Focusing on a brief historical context of streaming, the trending live-streaming phenomenon isn’t just something that stirred viewers into the immersive world of vlogging, this happening emerged from years of transition of information. To simplify the difference of Broadcast and Streaming David Wood from EBU Technology & innovation explains. The process of broadcasting is that everybody receives the same signal at the same time with an exact copy of sound and picture quality (Broadcast), whereas streaming a user can opt to receive or not the signal and as a result the signal quality changes as users come and go (Multicast).3 The past 25 years were the building blocks of technology to make modern streaming possible. The transmission of a live event Xerox PARC proved that their technology was possible, streaming a band performance (1993). After this, other major events were streamed like the Tibetan Freedom event and even former US President Bill Clinton used it in local events.4 As quoted in an article of repertoire productions. “This laid the foundation for all companies to consider using live streaming to build a branded message and inspire audiences to get excited about the fact that this was live, right now, the latest and purest news about their products (…) The advent of multicasting versus unicasting improved the bandwidth required for all viewers to watch a stream by eliminating the discrete connections needed between end user and server. ".5
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EBUTECH. 2014. Streaming vs Broadcasting [online]. [Accessed 25/06/2018] Available on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WtG0yI8nXE 4 NOVAC, M. 2017. How Livestreaming Changed the Event Industry - SEE Business travel & meetings magazine. Available from: . [May 27, 2018]. 5 PRODUCTIONS, R. 2018. A History of Live Streaming - Repertoire Productions. Available from: . [May 20, 2018].
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Besides all the technical issues when conducting a live coverage of an occurrence, it is always more energetic and reliable as during a live event the content tends to be more immersive for the viewer like if the viewer himself is connected to the events of what is going on and are the first to know. It can also be a more reliable source due to being unable to edit in post-production and sometimes also the possibility to gain access to behind the scenes in certain scenarios. With such an advance in technology Live-Broadcasting & Streaming became possible. There also some differences between these two forms of transmitting information although the underpinning is the same, considering both have a transmitter and a receiver. But one could be considered more dynamic. Besides with an enlarging target audience with the increased usage of the internet and the capability of interaction. Taking into consideration the News during a live broadcast, more equipment is needed, regulations and copyright restrictions but there is more forms of authenticity and fact checking, now to its counterpart Live-streaming only needs a fast internet connection, a platform to host and a smartphone having less restrictions then a broadcast and the possibility to receive instant feedback from its viewers. As stated in an article of the University of Florida. “In some ways, the benefits of live-streaming put traditional news broadcasts to shame. While traditional broadcasts are typically a one-way conversation — news anchor or reporter to viewer — live-streaming allows audiences the opportunity to give feedback on what they’re seeing. (…) Live-streaming also requires only one person to deliver news in real time, (…) these broadcasts are censored based on FCC regulations. Live-streaming is uncensored content.”6 There is an indefatigable debate constantly going on about the pros and cons of both livebroadcasting and live-streaming the latter being more used by independent or small news agencies. In an article by the New Yorker, Tim Poll probably the first live-streaming journalists quotes: “The content I produce isn’t coming at the behest of a corporation.”7 It is easy to construct a tracible line between both viewpoints, nonetheless aren’t both subjected to the patterns of the viewers that consume this kind of information?
NASSER, L. 2016. Pros, Cons and Ethical Dilemmas of Live-Streaming – UF College of Journalism and Communications. Available from: . [May 27, 2018]. 7 MARANTZTIM, A. The Live-Streamers Who Are Challenging Traditional Journalism – The New Yorker. Available from: . [May 27, 2018]. 6
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It is possible that today that the term of live streaming is used in a wrong context for example in many online platforms, current news websites state it is Live Streaming, but it is a Live-stream of a Live broadcast.8 Similarly, when utilizing commercial streaming sources like Netflix, YouTube these platforms represent stream on-demand. On these platforms it is possible to choose content that they are interested in. Live streaming is only possible at one moment, (In real time) during the event.9 Still inside this ecosystem of live streaming a noteworthy use of livestreaming happened in 2007 when the founder of Justin.tv (later to be known as Twitch.tv) strapped a microphone and webcam to his hat and programmed his computer to continuously stream his life 24/7. This form of entertainment was swiftly coined as lifecasting.10 It is possible to consider Justin.tv as the pioneer in digital streaming websites, where also more complicated matters of copyright issues started to appear. Its original design was to narrowcast everyday life, but this concept was quickly later overthrown.11 Today exists a multitude of online platforms to stream, each with a specific target audience, this created perfect opportunities for brands, business and the curious mind. Live-streaming has sparked a change into certain ways that society consume information and display it. News, entertainment, globalization, social planning, education and business planning.12 Although it is easy to agree that it could be just considered another way to publicize information it holds the viewer in a different way. This matter is portrayed very simply in an article published on Medium.com in how this can be the technology of broadcasting the individual, by broadcasting
LIVE, O. 2018. Live News On – Streaming CNN news USA. Available from: . [May 27, 2018] 9 NOVAC, M. 2017. How Livestreaming Changed the Event Industry - SEE Business travel & meetings magazine. Available from: . [May 27, 2018]. 10 PRODUCTIONS, R. 2018. A History of Live Streaming - Repertoire Productions. Available from: . [May 20, 2018]. 11 RUGG, A. BURROUGHS, B. 2014. Extending the Broadcast: Streaming Culture and the Problems of Digital Geographies, Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 58:3, 365-380 12 HYDE, E. 2018. Live Streaming: The Way It Affects Today’s World – Innovation Enterprise. Available from: . [May 28, 2018]. 8
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the human condition and emotions everyday altering itself into a necessity, without video feed ideals can be contained and live-streams unlock these events connecting ideas around the world.13
Let’s take into consideration the streaming website known as Twitch.tv, “Welcome to a community where millions of people and thousands of interests collide in a beautiful explosion of video games, pop culture, and conversation. With chat built into every stream, you don’t just watch on Twitch, you’re a part of the show.”14
Twitch has been a very expanding stream platform for streaming games and eSports (Electronic Sports) being its mane focus that has driven and changed the gaming industry. Creating huge communities for gaming enthusiasts and technology brands. There is still an ongoing debate if gamers can be considered athletes, in 2013 the U.S government recognizes eSports players as professional athletes.15 In 2014 Amazon purchased twitch for 970 million US dollars, Amazon desires to extend its influence in the gaming industry that only in 2017 had an estimated revenue of 108 billion US dollars.16 These players and athletes stream games while displaying their skills and entertain viewers opened opportunities for brands to sponsor these influencers and display products. This is also due to the fact of the possible instant interaction with target groups, companies are using this bold live interaction with consumers trying to portray constant availability.17
HERTZBERG, J. 2016. Finally, The Year of Livestreaming – Livestream Ideas – Medium. Available from: . [May 28, 2018]. 14 TWITCH, T. 2018. Don’t just Watch, Join In – Twitch.tv – Available from: . [May 28, 2018] 15 TASSI, P. 2013. The U.S. Now Recognizes eSports Players as Professional Athletes. Available from: . [May 27, 2018]. 16 BATCHELOR, J. 2017. Games industry generated $108.4bn in revenues in 2017 – GamesIndustry.biz. Available from: . [May 28, 2018]. 17 NOVAC, M. 2017. How Livestreaming Changed the Event Industry - SEE Business travel & meetings magazine. Available from: . [May 27, 2018]. 13
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Twitch has its own universe in a certain way, although it started to “invest” it’s attention into IRL (in real life) directory. This channel is for streamers to broadcast their everyday live while interacting with viewers or not, twitch’s monetization system makes this way of live possible as with all channels people can donate or subscribe. Twitches subscription system is different from YouTube as you must pay to subscribe supporting both the website and the broadcaster, some broadcasters make live streaming as a full-time job. This special directory makes a more personal relationship with broadcaster and viewer. 18
YouTube has always been a predominate source of information for many years remaining as the most popular video sharing website still today YouTube is consulted to watch or re-watch certain events, news, documentaries and entertainment, it too has dived into the live streaming universe (YouTube Live) with the introduction of live streaming capabilities and discovery tools like live videos with 360º technology, live chat and moderation tools.19 As with everything that happens, social networks also play a role in the Live streaming ecosystem, social networks are a huge battleground for constant share of information. Diving into Periscope a streaming app available on iOS acquired by Twitter before launch in 2015. Despite its low numbers on the first days of launch, Periscope managed to flourish a few months after launch contaminating the mobile live-streaming culture.20 With such a fast-growing community of livestreamers regulations must be implemented because live streaming doesn’t have the same regulations as a live broadcast. An infamous use of the mobile app Periscope was on the 2nd of May 2015 during a very waited boxing match between Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao. Although the exact number of viewers through the app aren’t possible to calculate, an estimate around the thousands were able to watch the unsanctioned stream instead of paying the pay-per-
BOWMAN, B. 2017. How Twitch is turning ‘always be streaming’ into a career with zero balance - Polygon. Available from: . [May 27, 2018]. 19 YOUTUBE, Y. 2011. YouTube is Going LIVE – Official Blog broadcast yourself – Available from: [May 28, 2018]. 20 RUGG, A. BURROUGHS, B. PERISCOPE, LIVE-STREAMING AND MOBILE VIDEO CULTURE. LOBATO, R. MESSE, J. 2016. Theory on Demand #18 Geoblocking and Global Video Culture. Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures. 18
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view (PPV) of 100 US dollars, having a significant impact on right holders.21 While the use of these applications are digging in the controversial universe of piracy, it is suggested that it also represents a wider scaling tension against traditional media industries, practices of digital media and mobile technologies. A few months later in turkey, after schools were shut down due to links with the Gulen religious movement, an unemployed math teacher Ekol Hoca used the application to lecture classes to thousands of students in turkey. This situation showed that Hoca himself challenged politics and that live-streaming itself can also be used as a political tool.
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The density of this application is
undeniable. Thanks to periscopes repurpose on twitter its trendiness managed to rapidly spread, as of August 2015 this application had more then 40 million users that were watching more than 40 years’ worth of video per day. Streaming is gradually entering a large area of public awareness and of course its exploitation, since most of its applications are with smartphones that is an infrastructure based on the individual. Streaming challenges the obstacles that are behind content production and broadcasting and of course its circulation. An object that is handheld and always immediate makes this possible potentially refreshing broadcast journalism and with it entangling the production process of media industries. These rising technologies reflect in a certain way “the interlocking discontinuities” the evolving media landscape where traditional industries both digital and media skirmish from what they can in circulating video production.23 Diving into the area of journalism, refraining from the legalities of piracy, live-streaming has been used as a “circumvention tool” independent journalism and civic streaming, this concept
SANDOMIR, R. 2015. Periscope, a Streaming Twitter App, Steals the Show on Boxing’s Big Night - The New York Times. Available from: . [May 27, 2018]. 21
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RUGG, A. BURROUGHS, B. PERISCOPE, LIVE-STREAMING AND MOBILE VIDEO CULTURE. LOBATO, R. MESSE, J. 2016. Theory on Demand #18 Geoblocking and Global Video Culture. Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures. 23 RUGG, A. BURROUGHS, B. PERISCOPE, LIVE-STREAMING AND MOBILE VIDEO CULTURE. LOBATO, R. MESSE, J. 2016. Theory on Demand #18 Geoblocking and Global Video Culture. Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures.
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civic streaming is considered a form of digital witnessing that in a certain way can exploit the raised bars of traditional media being able to establish a more personal connection to its audience. In this age of social media, these tools aid mobile journalists to build their own personal brands “to navigate post-Fordist labor markets”.24
Another example of a platform that has adapted to this new format of transmitting live video Facebook Live, and how in a few days changed the way we consume media. In an article published on SocialMediaToday. Facebook has a herculean amount of influence in livestreaming by sheer numbers itself Facebook’s daily active user count is around 1.09 billion (2016). Poynter a journalism research group reported that their Facebook live videos were generating more reach in comparison to typical news posts. Besides some custom differences from Periscope, Facebook Live has the same groundwork, it is by sheer numbers itself and with the addition of this application and service we can’t circumvent change. “It's not simply that live-streaming exists - as noted, we've had access to live-streaming tools for some time - it's Facebook's reach potential and emphasis on Live that's changed the game.” 25 Something like Facebook that has this huge kind of influence, has implications, just as online content has democratized traditional media this can also disrupt the already pre-established media scenario shifting the focus and not taking these events into consideration is just hiding from the truth. 25
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RUGG, A. BURROUGHS, B. PERISCOPE, LIVE-STREAMING AND MOBILE VIDEO CULTURE. LOBATO, R. MESSE, J. 2016. Theory on Demand #18 Geoblocking and Global Video Culture. Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures. 25 HUTCHINSON, A. 2016. The Evolution of Live-Streaming Could Change the Way You Consume Media - Here's How | Social Media Today. Available from: . [May 28, 2018].
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CONCLUSION
From my view it is transparent that live streaming is here to say and its part of a constant process of digital evolution and satisfaction. Gradually YouTube has changed the way how we interact with information this outcome of reach is from a declined usage of Television, perhaps Live-streaming is going through the same transition from TV to YouTube and from YouTube to live stream. It is impossible to deny how Social media has had a huge impact on the transmission of media and information throughout the world, Social networks grabbed this opportunity to gain more influence and so do companies move to these types of platforms gaining more visibility. Taking into consideration all these past trials with the constant improvement of handheld hardware and internet connections it is possible to conceptualize why this form of media has become so common. We seek faster and faster ways to communicate and to consume we can see this outcome on new generations as they prefer disposable social networks like Instagram and short news feeds like twitter. As quoted before the need of instant feedback chat is immense and we tend to incline to those that are visually simpler. It is inexorable that social networks play a role on what happens in the medium spectrum I can’t deny how merging this type of video information to platforms like Facebook and Twitter was in a way perfect to spread its reaches globally. The reason I focused a bit on Twitch although being predominantly a website for streaming games and the huge market for eSports, eSports and the gaming industry is continuously growing and a market with this magnitude of influence certainly can affect the development of the ways Live-streams are conducted through hardware and software improvements. Television has tried and adapted to the necessities of internet consumers by developing certain applications to create a more immersive connection with viewers. The world itself LIVE creates necessity, in a way we prefer to be the first to consume information and from what we see we with communities create our own perception of what is happening. From all the data I have consulted and being also an active user of streaming services, I believe that this Live-Streaming age is going to continue to expand more and more it continues to be a preferred form of communication with businesses, education, entertainment and of course news. 11
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BIBLIOGRAPHY AND WEBOGRAPHY BATCHELOR, J. 2017. Games industry generated $108.4bn in revenues in 2017 – GamesIndustry.biz. Available from: . [May 28, 2018]. BOWMAN, B. 2017. How Twitch is turning ‘always be streaming’ into a career with zero balance - Polygon. Available from: . [May 27, 2018]. EBUTECH. 2014. Streaming vs Broadcasting [online]. [Accessed 25/06/2018] Available on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WtG0yI8nXE HERTZBERG, J. 2016. Finally, The Year of Livestreaming – Livestream Ideas – Medium. Available from: . [May 28, 2018]. HUTCHINSON, A. 2016. The Evolution of Live-Streaming Could Change the Way You Consume Media - Here's How | Social Media Today. Available from: . [May 28, 2018]. HYDE, E. 2018. Live Streaming: The Way It Affects Today’s World – Innovation Enterprise. Available from: . [May 28, 2018]. LIVE, O. 2018. Live News On – Streaming CNN news USA. Available from: . [May 27, 2018] MARANTZTIM, A. The Live-Streamers Who Are Challenging Traditional Journalism – The New Yorker. Available from: . [May 27, 2018].
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MERRIAM, W. [online] Merriam Webster – Streaming. Available from: . [May 26, 2018] NASSER, L. 2016. Pros, Cons and Ethical Dilemmas of Live-Streaming – UF College of Journalism and Communications. Available from: . [May 27, 2018]. NOVAC, M. 2017. How Livestreaming Changed the Event Industry - SEE Business travel & meetings magazine. Available from: . [May 27, 2018]. PRODUCTIONS, R. 2018. A History of Live Streaming - Repertoire Productions. Available from: . [May 20, 2018]. RUGG, A. BURROUGHS, B. 2014. Extending the Broadcast: Streaming Culture and the Problems of Digital Geographies, Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 58:3, 365-380 RUGG, A. BURROUGHS, B. PERISCOPE, LIVE-STREAMING AND MOBILE VIDEO CULTURE. LOBATO, R. MESSE, J. 2016. Theory on Demand #18 Geoblocking and Global Video Culture. Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures. SANDOMIR, R. 2015. Periscope, a Streaming Twitter App, Steals the Show on Boxing’s Big Night - The New York Times. Available from: . [May 27, 2018]. TASSI, P. 2013. The U.S. Now Recognizes eSports Players as Professional Athletes. Available from: . [May 27, 2018]. TWITCH, T. 2018. Don’t just Watch, Join In – Twitch.tv – Available from: . [May 28, 2018] UMAIR, S. 2016. Mobile Reporting and Journalism for Media Trends, News Transmission and its Authenticity. Journal of Mass Communication & Journalism, 6(9) [Accessed on 25/06/2018]. https://doi.org/10.4172/2165-7912.1000323 13
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YOUTUBE, Y. 2011. YouTube is Going LIVE – Official Blog broadcast yourself – Available from: [May 28, 2018].
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