After testing live video features in the fall, newsletter platform Substack announced Tuesday that it will make live streaming available to all publishers. This new feature allows creators to engage with their audience and collaborate with other publishers.
The introduction of live streaming shows that Substack is following in the footsteps of other platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Given the looming ban of TikTok in the US, this addition comes at a timely time, giving creators new ways to connect with their audiences.
To use the live video feature, users must have at least 10 free subscribers in the app. To host a live video, users click the orange plus button on the home page and select “Live.” After adding a video title, users can invite guests to join the stream or press the “Go Live” button to start broadcasting.
Once the livestream ends, publishers receive a complete recording of the session and can publish it as a Notes post, so any subscribers who missed it can catch up. Additionally, Substack provides AI-generated clips for social media sharing.
Substack has always been a platform for hosting newsletters, but in recent years it has expanded its offerings to include video support in some of its products. This started with the ability for publishers to upload or record videos directly within their posts, and later expanded to include video support for chats and notes.
The platform began experimenting with live video in September, initially offering the tool to best-selling creators with 100 or more paid subscribers.