Substack is introducing a live video component to its newsletter service, allowing creators to engage with their audience in real-time. Initially, this feature will only be accessible to users with Substack’s Bestsellers badges, with plans to expand to all users in the near future. Creators can initiate live videos within the Substack app and choose their audience from everyone, all subscribers, or paid subscribers. Subscribers will receive notifications when a live video begins, and collaboration with other Substack members is possible. After a live broadcast, a recording will be saved for future use in newsletters, along with a clipping tool for basic video editing. Substack’s move towards attracting video content creators from platforms like TikTok may be met with resistance from its existing user base, who value the platform’s asynchronous communication style. The success of this new feature remains uncertain, as the compatibility of live video with Substack’s core audience is questionable.
