Live-Streaming App For PCs Being Tested By TikTok

TikTok has begun testing a new live-streaming desktop app called Live Studio. This program will enable users to broadcast content directly to their TikTok accounts live from their computers.

The TikTok Live Studio allows users to stream content from their desktop to their social media account with a variety of live chat features as well as an expanded range of connection and encoding options. The goal of this platform is to create a means for creators to stream content directly to their accounts from their desktop computers in order to create better engagements between themselves and their fans.

Despite the launch of Live Studio, the program has not been without controversy. It reportedly runs on Open Broadcast Software (OBS), which usually doesn’t matter. However, The Verge is reporting that TikTok has failed “to adhere to OBS’ licensing requirements.”

“We have a commitment to dealing with GPL violations in good faith, and in the case of TikTok/ByteDance we would be happy to have a friendly working relationship with them as long as they comply with the license,” said Ben Torell, a business developer for OBS, on Twitter.

At this time, TikTok has not responded to a request for comment.

The Profit‘s Take:

It looks and feels like they’re creating a Twitch/Streamlabs OBS client that can stream directly from your PC. I’m confused, though. This isn’t a mobile program, which is surprising because mobile is clearly their primary platform right now. Also, it will be used for long-form content, which goes against TikTok’s entire ideology. It IS the platform of one-minute videos or shorter. This seems so far from their core competency. Maybe they’re trying to Trojan Horse their way into the gaming sector. But, if they are, then why not Trojan Horse with mobile since that’s your strength? I just don’t understand why they’re getting away from what made them successful: short-form, vertical videos, that are produced, not usually done live. TikTok does discovery better than any platform, so maybe that’s their ace in the hole. They realize nobody has dominated the live-streaming market, so they think “why can’t we get a piece of the action?” Either that will happen, or they may just fail like Microsoft, and we never hear about this again.

(All information was provided by Social Media Today and The Verge)