Livestreaming History

By /

Livestreaming history (quick timeline)

  • Early streaming media starts in the 1990s (pre-social era; RealNetworks/early web streaming).
  • Justin.tv launches (2007) and popularizes “anyone can broadcast” live online.
  • Twitch launches (June 6, 2011) as Justin.tv’s gaming spinout and becomes the dominant live platform for gaming.
  • YouTube enters modern live streaming (April 2011) (live section becomes a core part of YouTube).
  • Mobile live boom (2015–2016): Facebook rolls out Live first to verified/public figures (2015) then broader user rollout (2016).
  • COVID era (2020) massively accelerates livestreaming adoption beyond gaming (music, fitness, education), but monetization varies widely.
  • Periscope (Twitter) shuts down (2021) after early mobile-live hype fades and features get absorbed elsewhere.

Powered by
Scroll to Top