How Are Devon’s Festivals Adapting to the Age of Live Streaming?
There have been various updates to the internet over the years, but few have had the same impact that live streaming has had. The medium is hugely popular across the UK, and it’s used for everything from social media to business.
With people now spending more time online than ever before, there’s a risk that real world events may attract fewer visitors. That’s why some festivals in Devon have embraced live streaming, opening their doors to a much wider virtual world.
Live Streaming Craze Has Swept the Country
In the early days of live streaming, it was mainly used in the gaming industry. Twitch was an early adopter, and the platform’s success was built on players broadcasting their gaming exploits to viewers worldwide in real time. The online casino industry also jumped on it early, and now live streaming is one of the most popular UK online casino categories. Indeed, it has led to a plethora of new titles as well, including Live Monopoly and Live Stock Market.
The technology took off massively towards the end of the 2010s, and it hasn’t looked back from there. Facebook Live brought live streaming to the mainstream in 2017, and its usage blew up in its first few years on social media. Now, it’s being used for countless live events, helping to improve their accessibility. For example, the recent Black Sabbath farewell concert was broadcast via live streaming, with fans able to purchase online tickets for the event.
Embracing the Technology Allows for Global Reach
The Devon County Show is one of the most notable events in the region to have adapted to live streaming, and this is helping its global reach. Now, the agriculture and rural life promoting event isn’t restricted to people who can easily travel to it. Anyone can use the link to go online and see it all happening in real time, regardless of their physical location.
The Appledore Book Festival is another event based in Devon that allows people to engage with it online. Because it features panel discussions and author talks, live streaming is an excellent tool for allowing viewers to easily interact. Viewers can easily post their comments in the chat, and the people operating at the event can respond to some of them.
Live Streaming Should Help Sustain These Events for Many Years
In an age when more people are shifting towards spending a greater amount of time online, classic real world events like those found around Devon are at risk of losing footfall. By adapting to this growing trend, they can enjoy a sustainable future and continue to attract people in new ways.
As future technology emerges, the Devon County Show and others should seek to integrate it as swiftly as possible. For example, if virtual reality takes off as it’s expected to, events like this could offer immersive VR experiences where headset wearers feel as though they are walking around in person.
It's great to see that Devon’s best events have already adapted to live streaming. This will help market them to a wider audience and allow them to thrive for many years to come.
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