Periscope is upgrading its live streams to allow creators to include graphics and pre-recorded content.
Twitter is also letting brands sponsor Periscope live streams with the option to include pre-roll spots.
The move will see broadcast titles of branded videos will have to include the name of the partner. Live videos will not feature pre-roll or ads midstream, a format that Facebook is testing.
The update is a big step for Twitter to make money off of its live video app and to encourage more creators and advertisers to use it.
Prior, brands were testing Periscope videos and could pay to promote tweets with them but could not pay to sponsor broadcasts.
The new ad program is launching with Chase and Grey Goose. The brands will sponsor video created by retired professional tennis player Andy Roddick at the US Open.
“Throughout the tournament, he will invite viewers to watch the broadcasts with him, giving his expert perspective on the matchups and gameplay and driving tune-in to the broadcast,” Mike Folgner, Periscope’s group project manager,wrote in a blog post.
Roddick had used Periscope while attending Wimbledon in July. At that tournament, Twitter also began testing streaming sports. Twitter did not have access to live match footage, but it did show match replays and live analysis.
View the full blog announcement from Periscope here
https://blog.twitter.com/2016/introducing-new-ways-to-monetize-live-content-on-twitter