Live streaming obsessed Al Roker is launching a live streaming network
LOS ANGELES -- Al Roker is upping his investment in the live streaming space.
The Today co-host, and founder of live streaming studio RokerLabs, unveiled a new service on Thursday called Live Streaming Network (LSN).
The network, launched in partnership with JRSportBrief founders JR Jackson and Charlie Stettler, TV entertainment icon Fred Seibert and music impresario Lyor Cohen, is like a multi-platform network (such as Fullscreen, Maker and AwesomenessTV) but for the live streaming market.
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The goal is to bring talent, brands and audiences together with original programs and influencer-driven content.
The live streaming format has become especially useful for attracting younger users, who are drawn to the ability to connect with one another in real time with immediate commentary.
"Live streaming is the missing link between traditional television and social media," Ron Pruett Jr., Roker Media CEO, told Mashable. "The live streaming wave has just started to grow. In fact, the ecosystem is just emerging. So the platforms may be shaking out a bit while new ones spring up, but that will continue for a while. Roker Media decided at the outset that we would be platform agnostic and instead focus on talent, audiences and superior programming. We still believe this is the right path for us."
Early on, Periscope and Meerkat dominated the space by offering creators on their platforms "one-click streaming." But now, bigger players are getting in on the trend.
Just this week, Facebook made headlines after it announced a massive expansion of its Live platform.
YouTube is also reportedly creating a new live streaming app called YouTube Connect.
Over the last year, RokerLabs has continued to support talented live streamers, including entrepreneur and model Camila Alves who has a show on Facebook Live, foodie Skyler Bouchard on Periscope, and new social media star EvieWhy (Evie Yannakidis) on the fast-growing millennial platform YouNow.
RokerLabs and JRSportbrief have already successfully incubated several shows on YouNow, and also use the platform to align with their roster of in-house talent and build communities around them. For example, in just two months, EvieWhy already has nearly 2 million live stream views on YouNow.
With the new network, Roker Media "will develop and produce live streaming shows and commerce opportunities with talent and brands in the lifestyle, food, music, sports and entertainment categories."
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"Live streaming is a global phenomenon. Roker Media is designed to be at the intersection of brands, talent and live audiences," Pruett added. "All of these need an organized and trusted way to partner with each other and provide real interaction. We can deliver that and see the next network being built on a cell phone. Our LSN has this vision in mind."
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Saba was a Los Angeles-based reporter who covers all things digital entertainment, including YouTube, streaming services and digital influencers. Prior to that, she spent two years at the Los Angeles Times covering entertainment for the Calendar and Company Town sections. Saba grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in journalism and B.A. in political science. When not reporting, she is usually binge watching shows online or looking for new coffee shops to frequent.
