Since Meerkat stormed SXSW this year, live streaming apps have been all the rage. Once the fun of this new trend dies down, what will be left? Is live streaming the future of broadcasting or a legal liability?
On one hand, live streaming apps are fun and functional. According to Fortune, early adopters are jumping in to use Meerkat and Periscope in creative ways. Pop star Katy Perry used Periscope to broadcast pink carpet arrivals to her film’s premiere and aired a post-show Q&A, all while encouraging fans to promote the event with #PerryScope. Saturday Night Live, SNL founder Lorne Michaels and MSNBC are all examples of well-known brands successfully utilizing Meerkat to promote themselves and further connect with their audiences.
“If Hollywood can find ways to monetize live streaming, by including advertising or product placement, it could be a great and easy way to boost revenue for the changing industry.”
On the other hand, live streaming presents downsides as well. Even in public settings, recording people on video without their permission can violate “right of publicity” laws. Live streaming concerts, games and other events can present challenges for organizers, who have contractual obligations to sponsors. On a more practical level, thousands of people live streaming an event can eat up bandwidth and keep people from promoting it via their social networks. This is why the NFL banned live streaming of the Super Bowl this year by attendees.
Related reading: Live streaming apps like Meerkat and Periscope pose legal risks for users
Bandwidth issues point to a more practical issue for small business owners and professionals. As Time notes, livestreaming apps will totally crush your data plan. In an era where data limits are shrinking and prices are rising, this isn’t a good thing. So sure, you can live stream portions of your event or even a day at the office. But you’ll be paying for it, too.
Related reading: Periscope vs. Meerkat: Which Is The Livestreaming App For You?
Live stream to the CCC blog
Have you live streamed an event?
Which live streaming app do you prefer?
Do you foresee ways that your business could monetize live streaming?
Drop your thoughts in the comments, and chime in on the live streaming debate!
Cheers,
Jaime
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