56 THE LIVE LIFE IRL Streaming
GOING SOLO Pete Wilkins (right) with the LiveU Solo team after his epic and groundbreaking live stream marathon experience
the first person to live stream running the Manchester Marathon – maybe the first to live stream the running of any marathon. Kitted with a LiveU Solo and batteries in a backpack, a shoulder-mounted Sony Action Cam and a mobile phone to monitor audience comments, he raised a large amount of money for charity and showed what could be done with IRL streaming. “I did regret having such a heavy backpack, but it was such a fun experience. I had 2000 people watching live and donating for charity, and it was a really cool experience… People want to be part of the event and it’s an easy way to involve your community, no matter where in the world.” To boost the engagement and interest in his stream, Wilkins included an overlay with the video that added statistics to the feed, including his heart rate, calories burned, distance and time.
“There are so many people live streaming their gameplay that, to stand out, you have to think of creative ways to add things to your stream – some people have custom artwork designed. Every year the gaps are closing between what you can do in a one-person production and what you see on broadcast TV.” exercised by a single person is remarkable – but doing it all on your own isn’t simple. “It might sound easy, even just live streaming gameplay, let alone IRL streaming. But realistically you’re the director, the producer, the talent, the chat moderator, and you have to juggle all these things. And for IRL streaming, because it’s live, you have to be constantly entertaining for the three or four hours you’re streaming.” But Wilkins doesn’t see live streamers having to invest in big backpacks for much longer. As he sees it, the future is mobile. “I think the real innovation is happening in mobile phones and mobile streaming; as 5G rolls out we will get better transfer rates and coverage across the country, and the world. I think mobile phone apps are going to fill the gap rather than big tech innovators introducing new products. “I see live streaming growing, with more industries getting involved. Whether it’s live streaming and extreme sport or gardening, I’m sure there’s going to be a market for it. The thing that makes live streaming so appealing is the interaction you get with someone who shares your interests.” SHARING WITH THE WORLD The media power that can now be
EVERY YEAR THE GAPS ARE CLOSING BETWEEN WHAT YOU CAN DO IN A ONE-PERSON PRODUCTION AND WHAT YOU SEE ON BROADCAST TV
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