Substack wants writers to get into live video streaming

In a move to scoop up audiences from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, and YouTube, Substack is expanding its integrated video tools for creators, adding the ability to stream live.

Announced Wednesday in a blog post by Substack product manager Zach Taylor, the live streaming video tool will let writers either go live solo or with other writers on the newsletter platform. Substack added the ability for writers to send videos to subscribers in July, building on existing features like video podcasts and shareable clips.

The livestreaming feature is available for "bestsellers" (top-performing writers with paid subscribers) on iOS and Android, with Substack announcing "plans to expand to all Substackers in the coming months."

Substack has launched the livestreaming tool with some of its major players including Bill Maher, Hunter Harris, Michael Easter, Jeff Tweedy, Emily Schuman, Katie Sturino, Grace Atwood, Dan Harris, Jenn Lueke, Joanna Goddard, and more. Wake Up to Politics Substack author Gabe Fleisher livestreamed on Substack using the tool during the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19.

"At the DNC, my readers didn’t need to wait for me to draft an email newsletter to hear what I thought about the convention: they were able to log on to a live video with me right as the balloons dropped, to hear instant commentary from an independent voice, instead of cable news pundits being the only in-the-moment options," Fleisher said in a statement in Substack's post.

To go live, creators and writers can press the orange + button on the Home screen within the Substack app, and hit "Live video." Subscribers will be notified as soon as the stream begins. Expanding on Substack's "Collaborations" tool, writers can also choose to go live with another writer by inviting them (this is only available to iOS users so far, but Android users can join a stream if an iOS user invites them). Writers can also customise access to the livestream, whether visible to everyone or all subscribers, or creators can paywall live videos, creating a perk for paid subscribers.

Going up against existing livestreaming platforms will be quite the battle for Substack, with sites like Twitch synonymous with the tool and boasting dedicated community audiences, not to mention the likes of Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube having had live options for years. Exactly how writers use the livestream function to communicate with their subscribers will be interesting to watch — along with whether people will pay to watch said streams.