YouTube Expands Live Streaming To All Users: Conditions Apply

While uploading videos has its benefits, there are occasions where a live stream is better — for showing off events in real time, for an interactive game play session, and the like. Thus far, live streaming has been of limited availability on YouTube, and has seen its fair share of success, not the least of which was for some big-name live streams. Now all users have gained this opportunity, and we could see real-time broadcasts become a regular thing.

Today on the company's Blogspot, YouTube announced that live streaming is no longer the reserved right of the big and mighty — all users are free to utilize the functionality. This isn't entirely a free pass, however, with a couple conditions applying. As with certain other YouTube account features and functions, the user must be in good standing, otherwise the function will be disabled.

Likewise, those who want to live stream have to verify their account, which involves little more than receiving a code on your handset and entering it into the verification field. If you meet both of these requirements but aren't yet seeing the feature, hang tight — YouTube says the expansion is rolling out over the course of the next few weeks, so you might have a month or so of waiting left before your account has it enabled.

As part of this, and once you see the update, you'll also be able to hold a Google+ Hangout on Air from the Youtube Live Events manager, making it easier to get the entire process running and to simplify the process of inviting potential viewers. All the particulars to use the feature and verify one's account, as well as using the event manager, are up on the service's company blogspot.

SOURCE: YouTube