What we're up to
The new frontier of broadcasting
A fresh wave of alternative video platforms are changing what, where and how we watch content
A new chapter in video consumption is upon us. As reported by Forbes, video is projected to claim more than 80% of all web traffic by 2019, whilst according to YouTube; mobile video consumption continuously grows by 100% year upon year. Convenience, it seems, is the name of the game, with many of us relying on video for news, leisure and communication. As such, a number of new video platforms are revamping the future of media consumption, from the evolving niche online spaces tailored in infrastructure and design for alternative content, to social media ventures that open up new ways to create and share video. Below, we profile some of the platforms initiating these major shifts.
4:3
Dubbed as the “Netflix for the underground”, 4:3 is the new video venture launched by Boiler Room. Curating and commissioning underground film on youth culture, counter cultures, politics, music and performance, this platform provides a space for unseen films and new creations that challenge cultural norms. Freely accessible without subscription, with content ranging from music videos to full-length features, 4:3 doesn’t yearn for consumer commitment via sign ups and payments, it instead acts as an internet alleyway, free for all to wander through and discover overlooked treasures.
Into
A new production studio for LGBTQ+ creatives is on the cards, courtesy of Grindr’s online magazine Into - a website representing and celebrating LGBTQ+ culture. The LA-based space will be offering itself as a platform for queer creators, whose content may not fit the typical infrastructures of Youtube, Facebook and Vimeo. Nurturing the creation of specially created film on site – Into will double as a ‘queer-friendly’ space for this new work – challenging the assumption that video-streaming sites are able to house and embrace all content by default.
IGTV
Allowing users to post hour-long video clips, IGTV is Instagram’s new broadcasting feature available in-app or via an additional download. With the platform’s user rate increasing exponentially year upon year, this smart feature responds to new data that claims people are watching 40% less TV and 60% more video on Instagram, according the app’s founder Kevin Systrom. “Built for how you use your phone”, IGTV can be viewed full screen whilst held vertically, and has various tabs fitted with curated content under the tabs ‘For You’, ‘Following’, ‘Popular’ and ‘Continue Watching’. Like YouTube, users can subscribe to user channels to keep up to date with new content.
