Instagram extends live broadcast time limit to 4 hours

Instagram users can now go live up to four times more than before by following a significant extension of the live broadcast time limits.

Additionally, Instagram makes live broadcasts more visible and keeps them available to view for a longer period of time after they end.

Here are more all the updates announced for Instagram Live.

Longer time limit for live broadcasts

An update that is now rolling out for all Instagram users makes it possible to be available for four hours in a single broadcast.

Previously, the time limit for Instagram live broadcasts was one hour, after which the broadcast was immediately cut off.

If users wanted to stream longer, they had the option to go live again, but they would have lost their entire audience from the last broadcast.

An extension of the Instagram live broadcast time limit gives users the flexibility to stream longer without interruptions.

This puts Instagram in line with Facebook in terms of time limits for live streaming on mobile devices.

Facebook allows users to broadcast live from mobile for up to 4 hours, although that time can be doubled to 8 hours if broadcast from a desktop computer.

However, both are still far behind Twitch, where users can stream for more than 24 hours if they choose.

Instagram users can start taking advantage of the extended time limit now, as long as their account is in “good standing.”

Improved discovery of live streams

Instagram makes it easier for users to discover live streams with the addition of a “Live Now” section on IGTV.

Also, when a live broadcast concludes, Instagram will direct viewers to more live broadcasts from other users.

This is similar to how YouTube recommends other content to continue watching at the end of the video.

Perhaps Instagram will remove a page from the Twitch playbook in the future and allow users to “raid” other people’s live streams.

A Twitch raid refers to the migration of an entire live audience from one user stream to another. This is an optional feature that streamers can use at the end of a broadcast.

A raid helps people discover new streamers, while also helping to increase the audience of streamers. It is beneficial for both parties.

There is no such feature in the works for Instagram, but it is not out of the question.

Instagram recently started allowing users to monetize their streams with fan badges, which is very similar to the Twitch subscription system.

Time will tell if more Twitch-like features are on the way for Instagram Live.

Live Stream Archive

Instagram will soon give users the option to archive their streams for up to 30 days.

Previously, users could save their feed posts or stories to a private archive, but the only way to save a broadcast was to immediately post it to IGTV.

The next option to save live broadcasts will work exactly like the archive function for posts and news stories.

However, unlike feed posts and stories that are kept indefinitely, live broadcasts will be removed after 30 days.

Source: Vice President of Product of Instagram at Twitter