YouTube unveils live-streaming service

April 13, 2011 | Source: Computerworld

YouTube is expanding its video offerings, launching a live-streaming service to complement its catalog of recorded videos.

The video-sharing website is trying to better handle the age of Internet-connected televisions, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. YouTube is reorganizing its home page around “channels,” or topics, such as sports and arts.

The website is working to include about 20 “premium channels” that would showcase five to 10 hours of professionally produced, original programming each week.

YouTube is gradually rolling out the live streaming beta platform to allow select YouTube partners to stream live content. Starting this week, viewers could watch live games from Indian Premier League Cricket and a Stanford University lecture on the impact of the tobacco industry on global health.

YouTube launched a new page where users can go to find listings of the live events.