Facebook has launched a new live event app, Venue, to enhance the experience of users who are both hosting and watching live streams, in an attempt to become a “companion to live television”.
Live stream events are becoming more frequent since the outbreak of COVID-19, and ‘second screening’ has become a popular component for social media platforms. Facebook released research, stating that “94% of people keep a smartphone on hand whilst watching live TV”.
To focus more on Live Events, Facebook has launched a tool called "Venue" which improves the second screen experience for people watching live events. The app provides interactive questions, polls, and open up short chats all around the specific moments of the events. pic.twitter.com/060JI6pjRZ
— MapleGraph Solutions (@maplegraph) June 4, 2020
Venue is an attempt at putting both commentary and live moments together within an app, in order to mirror the experience of interacting with other viewers live online. It aims to bring fans and commentators together in an interactive way, improving the dual screen aspect of live streams.
Live stream hosts will now be able to ask fans questions, host polls and get more interaction from viewers whilst the event is happening live.
Up until now, Twitter has been the go-to platform to share thoughts on live events, like sport or television shows, and to communicate with fellow viewers.
Using Facebook’s NPE app Venue right now and it’s…
Well it’s an app.
The in feed chat is really weird. pic.twitter.com/Lv9h69QZZn— Jeff Higgins – Back At The ✊🏿 (@ItsJeffHiggins) May 31, 2020
Venue aims to become a competitor for that experience by allowing communication during live events within the app. However, instead of every user chiming in at one time, the app will allow hosts to curate the conversation.
Venue was trialled during the NASCAR’s Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 on 31 May. There is yet to be an announcement regarding any further live stream events on the app.
Facebook recently launched the music-making app, Collab, and video group-calling app CatchUp, meaning there could also be more varied live streams coming down the line.
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