Feb 8, 2017

YouTube launches mobile live streaming

YouTube is creating a mobile live-streaming feature that is built directly into the YouTube mobile app, that allows users to make money on their content. This puts YouTube a step ahead of Facebook and Instagram, who haven't launched ways for users to make money on their live streams.

How it works: A new "capture" button will be added to the most-updated version of the YouTube mobile app that once hit allows the viewer to stream their content live. Live videos will have all of the same search, recommendation and privacy functions as normal videos. YouTube says they've been refining the service with select partners to make the experience optimal for a public rollout.

Show me the money: YouTube has introduced the new feature with a ready-to-go monetization platform, called Super Chat, which is available in over 20 countries. Users can purchase chat messages within any livestream that are highlighted in bright colors and stay pinned to the top of the chat window for up to five hours. Super Chat allows users to pay to engage in a more visible way and gives creators an opportunity to monetize their videos.

Why it matters: YouTube is taking a step ahead of rivals Facebook and Instagram by letting everyday users, including publishers, monetize their videos. Instagram and Facebook are still testing monetization opportunities for their live platforms. Some publishers have said they would abandon resources for Facebook Live altogether if the tech giant doesn't introduce a monetization platform for them to make creative investments worthwhile.

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Rebecca Falconer, Orion Rummler, Marisa Fernandez

U.S. coronavirus updates: Death toll surpasses 8,400

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins; Map: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

Recorded deaths from the coronavirus surpassed 8,400 in the U.S. on Saturday, per Johns Hopkins data. The death toll in the U.S. has risen over 1,000 every day for the past four days, since April 1.

The big picture: President Trump said Saturday America's is facing its "toughest week, between this week and next week." Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the U.S. should expect to see deaths continue to rise in this period.

Go deeperUpdated 31 mins ago - Health

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Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 8:30 p.m. ET: 1,197,405 — Total deaths: 64,606 — Total recoveries: 246,152 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 8:30 p.m. ET: 308,850 — Total deaths: 8,407 — Total recoveries: 14,652 — Map.
Public health latest: CDC launches national trackers and recommends face coverings in public. Federal government will cover costs of COVID-19 treatment for uninsured. The virus is hitting poor, minority communities harder and upending childbirth.
2020 latest: "We have no contingency plan," Trump said on the 2020 Republican National Convention. "We're having the convention at the end of August."
Business updates: Restaurants step up for health care workers. Employees are pressuring companies to provide protections during coronavirus.
Oil latest: Monday meeting among oil-producing countries to discuss supply curbs is reportedly being delayed amid tensions between Saudi Arabia and Russia.
Education update: Many college-age students won't get coronavirus relief checks.
1 🏀 thing: The WNBA postpones start of training camps and season.
What should I do? Pets, moving and personal health. Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk.
Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

Subscribe to Mike Allen's Axios AM to follow our coronavirus coverage each morning from your inbox.

Keep ReadingUpdated 51 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Axios

World coronavirus updates: Spain tracks more cases than Italy

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins, the CDC and China's Health Ministry. Note: China numbers are for the mainland only and U.S. numbers include repatriated citizens and confirmed plus presumptive cases from the CDC

Spain overtook Italy in its number of coronavirus cases on Saturday. The global death toll has surpassed 62,000, per Johns Hopkins data.

The latest: About half the planet's population is on lockdown amid the coronavirus crisis. Fatalities are exponentially increasing across Europe, with roughly half of deaths worldwide located in Italy and Spain.

Go deeperUpdated 7 hours ago - Health