25 Live Video Stats Marketers Need to Know in 2021

In the past year or so, live video has quickly become one of the most popular types of online content, especially on social media.

Not only is Facebook Live thriving, with one in five videos being live streams, but other major platforms like Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and -- most recently -- LinkedIn, have embraced similar features.

Aside from the older social media platforms allowing live streams, some emerging platforms, like Twitch.tv, now cater specifically to live stream viewers.

While people find live streams entertaining because they offer them a chance to see raw, authentic footage, view behind-the-scenes video from their favorite influencers, or interact in live Q&As with industry experts, brands also find this content beneficial for boosting awareness.

For example, many companies have sponsored or hosted the live Q&As I noted above. Alternatively, they've also sponsored live product tutorials from social media influencers. Aside from smaller Q&As and tutorials, some brands have even created entire virtual events that rely on live streams.

When it comes to live video, there are many creative opportunities that could allow brands to reach and interact with their audiences. But, because this tactic is still somewhat new, many companies might not know where to start when brainstorming live content.

Like with any new trend, brands might also wonder, "Is streaming live video worth my time, or is this strategy just built on hype?"

To give you a bird's eye view of the live video landscape, here are 25 stats that you should keep in mind if you're considering live video.

25 Live Video Stats That Marketers Need to Know

Growth in Live Video

• In 2019, internet users watch 1.1 billion hours of live video. (StreamElements)
• The video streaming market is projected to hit 184.3 billion by 2027. (Grand View Research)
• In 2018, 47% of live streaming video viewers worldwide are streaming more live video compared with the year before. (IAB)
• Also in 2018, 44% of live video viewers said they watch less live TV "as a result of live streaming." (IAB)
• 67% of consumers were streaming live video worldwide by the end of 2018. (IAB)
• By the end of 2020, live streaming is expected to account for 82% of all internet traffic. (Go-Global)

How Live Streaming Benefits Brands

• More than 35% of marketers use live video as part of their social media strategy. (Social Media Examiner)
• 52% of live stream viewers prefer free, ad-supported content over subscription content. (IAB)
• 82% of people prefer live video from a brand over standard social media posts. (Livestream)
• 67% of audiences who watch a live stream event will purchase a ticket to a similar event. (Livestream)
• 80% of people would rather watch live video from a brand than read a blog. (Livestream)

Live Streaming Platforms

• In May 2019, YouTube Live videos were watched for 284 hours. This was a monthly record for YouTube. (StreamElements)
• Non-gaming content has been a major growth driver for Twitch representing 11% of the hours watched in December 2019 compared to 8% in December 2018. (StreamElements)
• In Q2 of 2019, Twitch users watch 2.9 trillion hours of live content. (StreamElements)
• In Q1, Twitter hosted more than 1,200 live-streamed events. (Twitter)

Source

• 70% of consumers prefer to watch live video on YouTube over other platforms. (Livestream)
• 60 of the most-viewed YouTube live streams happened in the last two years. (Think With Google)
• "Facebook Live Stream" saw a 330% increase in searches between 2016 and 2018. (Mediakix)
• One in five Facebook videos is a live broadcast. (Facebook)

Live Stream Audience Behaviors and Content Preferences

• On average, 1.05 million viewers were on Twitch at any given time in Q4 of 2019. (Statista)
• 70% of consumers who live stream do so at least once per day. (IAB)
• 67% of people say the quality of the video they're watching is the most important factor of a live stream. (Livestream)
• The most-watched live streams have to do with news coverage, while concerts and live conferences tie in second. (Livestream)
• 87% of people will watch a live stream if it includes behind-the-scenes content. (Livestream)
• Almost half of Gen Z watches their favorite shows live on social media. (eMarketer)

Planning Your Live Video Strategy

From the stats above, we can see that live video isn't going away any time soon.

But, before you start your first live video, you'll want to plan out your live event ahead of time to ensure that it's both valuable and professional looking to your audience.

You'll also want to determine which platform will allow you to reach audiences that most align with your brand. For example, if you're interested in gaining awareness from a more general audience, Facebook Live might be a great option due to the platform's age and its number of users. On the other hand, if you want to reach gamers or Gen Z, you might want to test out a Twitch stream.

If you're interested in creating your own live campaigns, but don't know where to start, here's a great guide to help you.

Trying to pick out the right live streaming platform for your brand? Check out this post that directly compares Facebook Live and YouTube. You can also read up on one of the fastest-growing live platforms, Twitch, here.