Facebook is launching its newest feature called Live Audio, which will complement the site's video streaming feature and play audio-only content that can be listened to via its News Feed.
This will make it possible for Facebook users to upload and listen to radio broadcasts, podcasts, book readings, and interviews.
The company has noticed for some time that there are people who use the video streaming service and will also use a Facebook Live API or a still image to broadcast audio-only content. This led to the creation of the new service. "We know that sometimes publishers want to tell a story on Facebook with words and not video," said Shirly Ip and Bhavana Radhakrishnan in a press release statement.
Facebook Live Audio: Great For Those With Low Connectivity
The feature will allow content publishers to go live even if they are broadcasting from areas that do not have strong internet connectivity. This is a great option for those who find it hard to use Facebook's live streaming services because of how video can eat up a lot of bandwidth.
This new feature will be great news for journalists located in war zones or crisis areas that do not have a strong internet connection, and for independent artists who want to broadcast live studio sessions or concerts online. Podcast producers will also be able to find a new way to distribute their content through the platform. And for content creators who have been wanting to upload their content but are camera-shy, they will be able to do so using Live Audio.
According to its developers, the feature was also added to Facebook because there is already a ready audience for it - this is great for people who like to listen to audio while doing other things. Those who are using Android devices can listen to a Facebook Live Audio broadcast even if they are browsing on a different application, while those who use iOS devices will be able to listen to the live audio while browsing other parts of Facebook.
See Who Gets To Have Early Access
The first audio content publishers that will be able to test out the service are BBC World Service (news radio) and Harper Collins (book publisher). Authors Adam Grant and Brit Bennett will also be given the chance to test out the new audio platform by doing live readings of their published work.
Facebook has been rolling out its real-time content offerings as evidenced by the launch of Live 360 just last week.
