Earlier this summer live video streaming service Ustream scored a big win as it was endorsed by Facebook as its preferred live video service. The app gives celebrities and brands a way to create their own live streams without having to build custom Live Stream Box applications, which also launched in June. Ustream on Facebook is only available to brands and celebrities at this point (you have to apply to the program if you want it), but it’s already seeing some impressive stats — to date, the app has seen nearly 4 million total viewers and more than 6 million hours streamed.
The app’s growing roster of celebrity users includes Miley Cyrus, CBS Mountain Dew, The Jonas Brothers, Ashton Kutcher, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Honors Society, Ashley Tisdale, Reba McEntire, Diddy’s White Party, Hurley Pro and U.S. Open surfing competitions, Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong Global Summit, as well as a number of other live concerts and even Duke University’s office hours. Facebook executives have used the app as well, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg streaming from Brazil during a talk and COO Sheryl Sandberg using it for her Advertising Week keynote.
To be clear, Facebook and Ustream don’t have a financial relationship — rather, Facebook has chosen Ustream as its “preferred provider for live streaming video on Facebook”. Facebook was involved in helping develop the application and its initial testing during some massively popular Jonas Brothers events, and has previously recomended it in its blog posts.
Looks neat.
How the hell are they going to monetize on that content? People should pay for exclusive, rich content, not just get it for free.
you would pay for a webcast with Miley?
Why should people necessarily pay? Charge the advertisers. There’s a novel concept. In case you haven’t heard but less people are paying for content than before. You’re going to need to get a little more creative.
I like the Facebook strategy they are using.
Wow! that’s alot of viewers….
very exciting Facebook + Ustream
I’m in LA and Ustream is everywhere! Facebook’s lead is growing each and everyday….
Agreed that it’s very exciting times…what will be next?!?
I heard about augmented reality….
Facebook has user’s details such as their date of birth, location and photos. It also knows who has been watching Miley Cyrus. Shouldn’t viewers over 18 be put on some kind of register?
Just an idea…
A welcome development.
6 million hours streamed
4 million viewers
1.5 hours of video watched per viewer?
Jason, can you confirm that these are the stats Ustream is reporting?
Cool as hell. We’re integrating straight posting to YouTube for small businesses through CloudProfile, but this makes me want to prioritize enabling businesses to share live as well.
Does anyone know whether you can seamlessly have what is being streamed live also stored so that it can be viewed later asynchronously?
6 mil is a nice number, but the maths is a little screwy:
“the app has seen nearly 4 million total viewers and more than 6 million hours streamed.”
6 / 4 = 1.5. That means every viewer’s watching 90 minutes of ustream?
I haven’t even watched that much youtube, let alone ustream.
Live webcasts are always longer viewing time.
I watched the PGA tournament online this weekend for like 8 hours a day!
the Hurley event was like all-day-long for multiple days….
live streams are ALOT longer than short videos…..think of how long conferences are!
conferences last many hours!!
There are so many rumors going around about facebook patrons are going to get knocked off unless thet renew with facebook. Hardcore farmtown addicts are having nightmares over this. Many have have had problems, including myself that the developers are aware of and do fix the bugs in a timely faahion. Is there any truth to the rumors?