YouTube creators with 10K subscribers get live streaming & monetized ‘Super Chat’ feature

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YouTube is opening its mobile live-streaming feature to creators with, at least, 10,000 subscribers and has added a “Super Chat” feature that monetizes the live-stream chat function.

According to the announcement, live streams will include the same features as regular YouTube videos — they will be searchable; listed in video recommendations and playlists; and, protected from unauthorized use.

YouTube’s live streams also come with the new “Super Chat” monetization tool, allowing viewers to pay for more prominent messaging: “It lets any fan watching a live stream stand out from the crowd and get a creator’s attention by purchasing chat messages that are highlighted in bright colors and stay pinned to the top of the chat window for up to five hours.”

YouTube shared the following GIF, showing how to start live streaming using the “”Capture” button built into the YouTube app, and included an example of a “Super Chat” message (the chat highlighted with a green background):

In addition to the new monetized chatting feature, YouTube has also slowed down the live chat messaging so that creators do not receive 2,000 chats per second while streaming.

While live streaming is still only available to creators with 10,000 subscribers, YouTube noted it will soon be available to all.

April 17, 2017 Postscript: According to a report from TechCrunch, YouTube has lowered the requirement for live streaming from 10,000 subscribers to 1,000 subscribers. In addition to a YouTube rep confirming the update with TechCrunch, the Creative a Live Stream support page lists the 1,000-subscriber requirement.