LinkedIn finally rolls out video livestreaming service LinkedIn Live

LinkedIn is getting into the video livestreaming game.

The social networking website built for business professionals has started rolling out a streaming service called LinkedIn Live, as first reported by TechCrunch.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

LinkedIn Live will be rolled out via invite-only to select U.S. users for this initial beta phase. Users who want to try out LinkedIn Live but aren’t one of the lucky invitees will eventually be able to apply for access to the service.

LinkedIn tells us that they’re putting a focus on interactive and timely live video streams on LinkedIn Live. The company provided examples such AMA (Ask Me Anything) events or mentors giving their students advice. The social network is clearly looking to shape the content streamed on the service, at least at first, by using it to support users looking to broadcast conferences, company announcements, earnings calls, and other similar events.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

As you can see from the photos, the LinkedIn Live’s mobile UI is very reminiscent of Facebook’s livestreaming service, Facebook Live.

LinkedIn is partnering with about half a dozen third-party streaming developers like Wirecast and Wowza Media Systems for the initial rollout. The company said it has plans to announce even more partnerships in order to bring a high level of production to the livestreaming service.

Back in 2016, Microsoft purchased LinkedIn for more than $26 billion. The tech giant has mostly been hands off with the business-oriented social network. However, according to TechCrunch, Microsoft’s Azure cloud media product will provide encoding services for LinkedIn Live.

LinkedIn has been fairly late to the digital video market. The social network only launched its native video platform in August 2017.

For a more direct comparison with LinkedIn Live, Facebook globally rolled out its Facebook Live streaming service nearly three years ago. Twitter acquired livestreaming app Periscope a year earlier, getting the social media platform into the streaming game in 2015. YouTube’s livestreaming service origins are approaching close to a decade.

In another attempt to catch up with popular features on other social media platforms, LinkedIn recently started testing out its own version of Snapchat’s Stories.

Regardless of LinkedIn Live’s late entry into the streaming game, due to its unique position as a niche social media site, LinkedIn will probably be able to fully launch its service without too much of a hitch.