Twitter continues its push into live video with the launch of Periscope Producer API, a new tool for sharing live video aimed at larger media firms and broadcasters. The API will allow creators to connect their equipment to Twitter in order to stream live video directly to its network. The API enables third-party applications to authenticate Periscope accounts, configure streams, start and stop broadcasts and publish broadcasts to Twitter. The new API feature comes about five months after Twitter launched the Periscope Producer, which has nearly doubled the total number of Periscope broadcasts per quarter.
We look for Twitter to continue its push into live video as they compete with the likes of Facebook and YouTube. Twitter announced a number of beta API partners, including Telestream (Wirecast software), Livestream (Mevo camera), Switchboard (Cloud platform), and Teradek (video encoders).
The company continues to reach deals with both professional sports and eSports leagues as they look for new ways
to increase engagement. A few weeks ago Twitter announced a partnership with eSports companies ESL and DreamHack to live stream eSports tournaments in 2017. Twitter also remains active within professional sports streaming rights, signing deals with multiple leagues including the NFL, NBA, MLB, and PGA. The most noteworthy deal was a 10-game NFL Thursday Night Football deal this past season. The NFL TNF initiative saw 3.5MM unique viewers on average with 55% under the age of 25 and 25% international highlighting the ability for TWTR to extend viewership demographics outside of traditional channels.
Twitter remains focused on its core business when founded – live, real time worldwide interactions which @jack laid out in his top priorities: 1) fixing the broken windows of the core service 2) expansion of live streaming video; 3) creators and influencers; and 4) user safety. Since @jack’s return there has been a focus on a leaner and more nimble Twitter with a focus on the core product offerings. We view this transition as a continuation of this focus of streamlining operations to allow Twitter to innovate and deploy updates rapidly.