New platform allows users to broadcast live video in front of a live online audience, and earn immediate exposure and social status
New York – September 12, 2011 – YouNow, a new social television platform that lets people broadcast live video with their web cams or mobile devices and be evaluated by fellow users, officially launched today at TechCrunch Disrupt SF. Adi Sideman, founder and CEO of YouNow was on stage to introduce the new destination site, available at http://www.younow.com. The site launched with a music and talk channels, with other channels to follow soon. In the coming weeks, YouNow will also launch on the iOS allowing people to broadcast from anywhere with a mobile device.
“YouNow is the world’s first live-video social television platform. It combines the competitive elements of popular shows such as “American Idol” and the “Gong Show” with reality style entertainment,” said Mr. Sideman. “The content is programmed live by users, and broadcasters can earn immediate fame and social following. Giving consumers the ability to broadcast live video, reach a significant audience, and get feedback in real time is revolutionary. It is the first time the 4th wall is truly broken and users can go on air as part of a TV channel programming. If you are good, you will stay on air, if you are not so good, you will be voted off and the next broadcaster will gain access to airtime. Its a crowdsourcing game and it’s easy to play.”
YouNow is a game that is native to the social web. The audience qualifies the content and ensures that the best talent reaches the most eyeballs. The game mechanics serve to self-govern and source what the viewers see. Broadcasters are guaranteed a live audience and receive immediate feedback. A broadcaster with higher status, more fans and experience is prioritized and gets on air faster than a less established broadcaster, who has to wait for their turn, or broadcast to a smaller audience.
Audience members vote live broadcasts up or down. Good scores earn users additional airtime, fans and status. Poor scores get users booted off the air. The site has even created virtual rotten tomatoes for the least popular content. Unlike any other live-video based format, the content is always being adjusted and optimized in real time against the audience’s desires and demands. There is nothing else like it online or off.
Additionally, YouNow announced a “YouNow Artist of the Week Contest” with MP3.com. Entrants are encouraged to perform in one of four musical categories including Pop, Rock, Hip Hop, and Country with the YouNow community choosing their Top 5 favorite contestants in each category. One finalist from each genre will then be featured on MP3.com as a “Free MP3 of the Day,” along with a full complement of editorial content including a profile, performance videos and links to their artist pages.
About YouNow
YouNow (http://www.younow.com) is a live-broadcast social television platform that is produced by consumers, lets people broadcast live video from anywhere in the world, in front of a live audience providing feedback. The audience qualifies the content and ensures that the best content reaches the most eyeballs. YouNow is backed by New York and Silicon Valley based Angel investors. Oren Zeev, a seasoned technology investor who has backed Audible, Chegg, Infolinks, Houzz and other successful startups, led YouNow’s series A round, which included Oren Dobronsky and Founders Collective.
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