Periscope: Broadcasting Live! From Your Phone

When assigned to choose a social media platform I hadn’t used before, what I did first was brainstorm some of the examples I’ve already heard of, but never got around to trying out. For example, I looked into ones that people I follow (entertainers, podcasters, etc.) tend to use, and ‘Periscope’ immediately came to mind; an iPhone/Android mobile app that allows you to stream live videos from your phone to the world.

(Image from Periscope.tv official website)

(Periscope was released on mobile devices in March 2015, less than a year ago. A number of celebrities and entertainers use Periscope from time to time if they want to broadcast events. I’ve also noticed that a couple local radio stations also use Periscope for their events and in-the-studio fun.

However, the app seems to still be dealing with the in-between stage of trying to gain more popularity going into its sophomore year. None of my friends use the app, and only a couple had even heard of Periscope before I told them about it and had them test it out with me for the assignment.

The app itself reminds me mostly of a live-streaming version of Snapchat, where you post videos publicly, and they stay available to watch for a certain amount of time before disappearing. It’s definitely a different app from anything I’ve used before in that it can so simply broadcast a live stream to the world without any more effort than the click of a button.

(My own screenshot using ‘Periscope’, the broadcast # is only limited to 1 since they disappear after a certain time)

What I found interesting in my research of Periscope is that apparently the app has stirred up some copyright controversy, due to the fact that some users have broadcasted TV shows and events, such as premiere episodes of ‘Game of Thrones’, as well as the 2015 ‘Mayweather vs. Pacquiao’ pay-per-view boxing fight; both of which aren’t available to the average cable customer.

In all honesty, I could see Periscope becoming either very popular in the future or fizzling out without the right boost or demographic being hit harder. However, I did fun using the app and can see why it is enjoyable for people who are already taking part.