Periscope makes live broadcasts more like talk shows

Twitter’s live video app Periscope now lets broadcasts feel more like talk shows.

Periscope is rolling out a new feature today that allows up to three guests join a live stream from their phones. It’s the first time the live-streaming app has supported a group feature, and though it’s audio-only for now, the service says it plans to add group video in the near future.

With the latest Periscope update, broadcasters can invite guests to join their stream. Guests share their audio using their phone’s microphone, but not their video. Periscope previously added audio-only broadcasts . 

The idea, according to Periscope cofounder and current VP of product for Twitter, Kayvon Beykpour, is to make Periscope broadcasts feel more like an interactive talk show.

“With this launch, we’re enabling richer conversations by allowing viewers to call in, like a talk show, and join with their voice. This makes live conversations even more fluid, and allows for new possibilities and ways people can have conversations,” Beykpour said in a statement.

Periscope streams were already interactive, as viewers could add comments or hearts to streams. But it’s nearly impossible for broadcasters to keep up with comments on popular streams with lost of viewers. By letting some viewers actually join the stream, broadcasters could help make their videos more interactive and engaging for their audience. It also offers more flexibility for streamers to collaborate.

For now, the group feature is only available in Periscope’s app, but Twitter plans to add support for the feature to its in-app live streaming as well. Periscope is also working on group video, which would lets multiple people simultaneously share video on alive stream, not just audio.