YouTube gets support for 360 degree live streaming, spatial audio

Last year, YouTube added support for 360-degree videos to make the video-sharing site more suitable for users with virtual-reality headsets. Now, Google has announced support for live 360-degree video streaming, and also spatial audio. And, music event Coachella will be one of the first to take advantage of this video format. Select performances from the festival will be live streamed in 360 degrees. “From musicians to athletes to brands, creators have done some incredible things with this technology. Now, they’ll be able to do even more to bring fans directly into their world, with 360-degree live streaming. And after years of live streaming Coachella for fans around the world who can’t attend the festival, this year we’re bringing you the festival like never before by live streaming select artist performances in 360 degrees this weekend,” Neal Mohan, Chief Product Officer writes in a YouTube blogpost. To bring virtual reality stories to all, Google said it has been working with companies such as VideoStitch and Two Big Ears to make their software compatible with 360-degree live streams or spatial audio on YouTube. “We’ll also make 360-degree live streaming and spatial audio technologies available at all YouTube Space locations around the globe, so you can take it for a spin,” he adds.