Facebook Introduces Live API For Developers and Publishers

Nathan Ernest Olupot April 13, 2016

1 minute read

Facebook introduces a Live API for developers and publishers to join forces to build immersive and interactive live video experiences on Facebook.

Facebook Inc. on Tuesday 12th, introduced a Live Application Program Interface (API) during their first round of the F8 developer conference in San Francisco. The Live API is a new way for developers and publishers to join forces to build immersive and interactive live video experiences on Facebook.

With the Live API, media organizations can seamlessly incorporate Live into their existing broadcast setup and also create new ways to interact with their viewers. The Live API also makes it possible for device manufacturers to integrate Live directly into their latest video products.

How to get started with the Live API
Publishers with verified pages can get started with the Live API via Publishing Tools or by contacting one of our Media Solutions partners. These partners have built video production, editing, and streaming products that publish directly to Facebook Live and bring live video to life with features like camera switching, instant replay, on-screen graphics and special effects.

Developers can learn how to integrate directly with Facebook Live using the Live API Documentation. The Go Live Dialog makes it particularly easy to get started. If you’re a developer and would like to integrate Facebook Live directly with your app or device, sign up to request access.

Here are a few of the ways you can use the Live API:

1) Stream video from more than just your smartphone
The Live API lets you build video streams that mix multiple video and audio sources and introduce special effects. These can also include programmatic sources like games or screencasts.

2) Create new ways to interact with viewers
When you combine the Live API with Facebook’s Graph API, you gain access to your live video’s comments, reactions, and mentions. You can use this information to reflect viewer engagement in real time and create on-screen graphics that show live poll results, analyze comments, and enable comment moderation.

3) Go live from a standalone camera, or even a drone
The Live API can enable spectacular live videos through seamless hardware integrations. Hardware manufacturers can integrate with the Live API to let people go live directly from their devices.[related-posts]