After initially introducing Facebook Live video using celebrities and high-profile users last year, Facebook Inc. started rolling out its livestreaming feature to all users in December. Facebook Live eventually was opened up to all iOS and Android users by the end of February.

Since the rollout of Facebook Live to all users, the livestreaming tool has since been updated to allow for Continuous Live Video, such as nature feeds. It also allows broadcasters to limit their videos to a certain location and age group with geo- and age-gating. And last week, Facebook introduced Live 360, to allow users to enjoy a more immersive experience during a livestream. Starting with National Geographic, Live 360 will be available more broadly in 2017.

Following the popularity of Facebook Live, the company has now launched a new way that broadcasters can go live: Live Audio. The new feature will allow broadcasters to go live with audio only, for example podcasts, book readings and interviews.

Live Audio will allow publishers to broadcast from areas where there isn’t a strong enough network connection for video. It will also allow audiences in low-connectivity areas to enjoy broadcasts in real time. Facebook is testing Live Audio with a select group of publishers and is planning a broader rollout to Facebook publishers and users in early 2017.  

Live Audio on BBC World Service, HarperCollins, more

The first publishers who you will see Live Audio from include:

• BBC World Service: provides mostly radio news and analysis.
• LBC: Leading Britain’s Conversation.
• HarperCollins: second largest consumer book publisher in the world, operating since 1817.
• Adam Grant: author, Wharton professor, New York Times writer on work and psychology.
• Brit Bennett: debut author of “The Mothers.”

Live Audio: leave comments, reactions and share the broadcast

During a Live Audio, just like with Facebook Live, you will be able to leave comments, react with the various emoticons and share the broadcast with your Facebook friends.

If you are watching the broadcast following the live stream you will see a feed of the comments and reactions at the moment they happened in the Live Audio.

Live Audio lets you multitask

Android users: If you are listening to a Facebook Live Audio on an Android device you can continue to scroll through your Facebook News Feed, use other apps or lock your phone and the audio will continue to play.

iOS users: If you are listening to a Facebook Live Audio on your iOS device you will be limited to browsing in the Facebook app while the audio continues to play. Multitasking on other apps or locking your device will stop the audio.  

Images via Facebook