YouTube will kick off live-streaming 360-degree video at Coachella.
On the heels of GoPro unveiling their VR platform for creators and 360-degree live-streaming demos at NAB, YouTube has revealed their newest feature: live-streaming 360-degree video.
The announcement was made on stage by Neal Mohan, Chief Product Officer of YouTube during the annual NAB conference keynote.
Mohan’s announcement arrives just one week after Facebook unveiled its plans for expanding live-streaming and its own design for a 360-degree camera, although Facebook never mentioned support for the combination of live and 360 video.
YouTube first launched support for 360-degree videos back in March 2015 and later updated the platform in November to fully support VR video, in a sense making it one of the largest VR content platforms overnight.
So when will we finally get to experience this long rumored feature?
After years of live streaming Coachella for fans around the world who can’t attend the festival, YouTube will be bring us the festival for the first time live in 360-degrees, streaming select artist performances this weekend.
YouTube also announced that starting today, spatial audio for on-demand YouTube videos has been added as a feature. This is huge news for creators who have been hoping to share more immersive audio experiences along with their videos, where depth, distance and intensity of sound all start to play a significant role.
If you are on an Android device, you can get your first taste of spatial audio with this playlist.
So who’s ready to start streaming?
YouTube says they are working with companies like VideoStitch, who just revealed their $1,800 360 live-streaming camera, to make their software compatible with 360-degree live streams. The video platform is also working with Two Big Ears to help bring spatial audio on YouTube. And you’re near a YouTube Space location, you can get your hands on both technologies as well.
VideoStitch’s Orah 360 live-streaming camera.
Launching YouTube 360 live at Coachella is a perfect venue, especially for so many that want to experience the festival as if they were actually there. I cannot wait until we start seeing every sports game broadcast in the same manner. With Facebook rumored to be working on a similar function, they really need to get in gear, otherwise they are going to miss the 360 live party.
Image Credit: VideoStitch
