YouTube Set To Roll Out 360-degree Video Livestream

The video platform began supporting 360-degree videos last March and is understood to be working on creating a live 360-degree feature that could redefine experiences ranging from live sporting events to music, politics and overall news reporting.

The live 360-degree video feature will become the company’s next growth area in terms of new content in a different format. Earlier, the company had launched support for Google Cardboard that allows users to convert smartphones into basic headsets to watch content followed by the launch of 3D videos in November which can only be seen via the Cardboard.

According to BuzzFeed, the Company is understood to have held meetings with 360-degree camera makers with a view to expanding the potential of spherical live-streaming by baking it into their products.

YouTube was created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005. In November 2006, it was bought by Google for $1.65 billion.

Most cameras capable of producing 360-degree videos shoot several videos at the same time, only pulling together the finalized footage after filming is complete. That’s fine for videos you want to upload later, but to live stream, a platform would need to know the exact specifications of each camera and be capable of processing this information into a coherent video for the stream.

For something like this Google has to come up with a set of specifications and software that camera manufacturers can leverage so that they can make their hardware compatible with a YouTube live streaming platform. Overall, it will be a herculean task, but Google is a likely bet to achieve it.

YouTube, now the world’s second-largest search engine operates as one of Google’s subsidiaries. The site allows users to upload, view, rate, share and comment on videos.