Justin.tv

Justin.tv was a live video streaming platform founded by Justin Kan and Emmett Shear in 2007, with the initial idea of broadcasting Justin Kan's life 24/7, similar to the concept of Big Brother (TV series) and The Truman Show. The platform quickly gained popularity, with users such as Chris Pirillo and Robert Scoble using it to broadcast their own lives, and it became a hub for live streaming, competing with other platforms like Ustream and Livestream. As the platform grew, it began to attract the attention of investors, including Y Combinator and Alsop Louie Partners, and it expanded its user base to include streamers like Kevin Rose and Gary Vaynerchuk. The platform's early success was also influenced by the popularity of social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, which allowed users to share their live streams with a wider audience.

● History

The history of Justin Kan's live streaming experiment began in 2007, when he started broadcasting his life on Justin.tv, with the help of Emmett Shear and Kyle Vogt. The platform quickly gained popularity, with users like Chris Pirillo and Robert Scoble using it to broadcast their own lives, and it became a hub for live streaming, competing with other platforms like Ustream and Livestream. As the platform grew, it began to attract the attention of investors, including Y Combinator and Alsop Louie Partners, and it expanded its user base to include streamers like Kevin Rose and Gary Vaynerchuk. The platform's early success was also influenced by the popularity of social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, which allowed users to share their live streams with a wider audience, including Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey. In 2008, Justin Kan and Emmett Shear launched Justin.tv as a separate company, with Justin Kan as the CEO, and the platform continued to grow, with the addition of new features and partnerships with companies like Microsoft and Apple.

● Features

The features of Justin.tv included live video streaming, chat rooms, and the ability for users to broadcast their own video content, similar to YouTube Live and Periscope (app). The platform also allowed users to create their own channels, similar to YouTube and Vimeo, and to monetize their content through ads and sponsorships, with the help of companies like Google AdSense and Amazon Associates. The platform's features were also influenced by the popularity of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which allowed users to share their live streams with a wider audience, including Selena Gomez and Kylie Jenner. In addition, Justin.tv had a strong focus on community, with features like live chat and user profiles, similar to Reddit and Discord (software), which allowed users to interact with each other and with the streamers, including Ninja (gamer) and Dr. Disrespect.

● Content

The content on Justin.tv was diverse, with users broadcasting a wide range of topics, including video games, music, art, and cooking, similar to Twitch (service) and YouTube. The platform was also home to a number of popular streamers, including Justin Kan himself, as well as Chris Pirillo and Robert Scoble, who used the platform to broadcast their own lives and connect with their audiences, including Elon Musk and Richard Branson. In addition, Justin.tv was used by a number of organizations, including NASA and The White House, to broadcast live events and connect with the public, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The platform's content was also influenced by the popularity of Esports and Gaming, with many users broadcasting their gameplay and competing in tournaments, including The International (Dota 2) and League of Legends Championship Series.

● Twitch Spinoff

In 2011, Justin.tv spun off its gaming content into a separate platform called Twitch (service), which was founded by Justin Kan and Emmett Shear, with the help of investors like Y Combinator and Alsop Louie Partners. Twitch (service) quickly gained popularity, becoming one of the largest live streaming platforms in the world, with a focus on video games and Esports, and it became a major competitor to other gaming platforms like YouTube Gaming and Facebook Gaming. The platform's success was also influenced by the popularity of Gaming and Esports, with many users broadcasting their gameplay and competing in tournaments, including The International (Dota 2) and League of Legends Championship Series. In 2014, Twitch (service) was acquired by Amazon (company) for $970 million, and it continued to grow, with the addition of new features and partnerships with companies like Microsoft and Apple.

● Shutdown

In 2014, Justin.tv announced that it would be shutting down, and that all of its content would be migrated to Twitch (service), which had become the primary focus of the company, with Emmett Shear as the CEO. The shutdown of Justin.tv was seen as a natural progression, as the platform had become less relevant with the rise of Twitch (service) and other live streaming platforms, including YouTube Live and Periscope (app). The shutdown also allowed the company to focus on Twitch (service), which had become a major player in the live streaming industry, with a focus on video games and Esports, and it had partnerships with companies like Nintendo and Sony Interactive Entertainment. The shutdown of Justin.tv was also influenced by the popularity of social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, which allowed users to share their live streams with a wider audience, including Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey.

● Legacy

The legacy of Justin.tv can be seen in the success of Twitch (service), which has become one of the largest live streaming platforms in the world, with a focus on video games and Esports, and it has partnerships with companies like Microsoft and Apple. The platform's influence can also be seen in the wider live streaming industry, with many platforms, including YouTube Live and Periscope (app), offering similar features and functionality, and they have partnerships with companies like Google and Amazon (company). In addition, the founders of Justin.tv, including Justin Kan and Emmett Shear, have gone on to found other successful companies, including Atrium (company) and Twitch (service), and they have invested in companies like Uber and Airbnb. The legacy of Justin.tv is also a testament to the power of innovation and entrepreneurship, with the platform's success inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs and streamers, including Ninja (gamer) and Dr. Disrespect, and it has influenced the development of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Category:Internet properties established in 2007