Gaming as a category, for example, is definitely growing, but in Indonesia, the most popular content genre is actually ghost hunting. What is the most common type of content that people livestream on BIGO? We also use AI, including facial recognition technology and body size, to identify whether a user is underage. When we do detect something, we can end the stream in our system almost immediately. We review 300 million broadcasts on a daily basis with 99.9% accuracy in detecting nudity, violence and other problematic content. We have a complex content management system that allows us to understand what is being streamed live so we can meet the various different local laws around the world. We have hundreds of thousands of filters that people can use to interact with streamers in real time as well as to exchange virtual currency. What sets us apart, though, is the massive focus that BIGO Technologies, our parent company, has on artificial intelligence.
Over the past four years, our users have created very strong communities, nearly families, where they share their common interests through video-based, real-time streaming, as opposed to textual interactions. Social interaction becomes even more important when movements are restricted as they are now. We want them to be able to share live moments, to showcase their talents and interact with other people around the world. MIKE ONG: The main thing we aim to offer is the ability for people to broadcast to fans and followers in real time. The India ban still stands, although BIGO is engaged in active discussions with India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.ĪdExchanger: How is BIGO Live different from other livestreaming platforms, such as Twitch, for example? The ban in Pakistan was lifted on July 30 after a meeting between a BIGO executive and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. Less than a month later, Pakistan followed suit. In late June, India banned BIGO Live, TikTok and 57 other apps developed by Chinese companies over security concerns. “We’re very new to some people around the world, but we’ve developed a very strong following,” said Mike Ong, BIGO’s VP of government relations.īut success is not without controversy. Streamers broadcast live videos of themselves doing everything from singing to cooking to stand-up comedy, and are rewarded with digital gifts that their fans buy using virtual currency.īIGO Live makes the majority of its revenue – roughly $40.2 million in the first quarter – from in-app purchases. Think of BIGO Live as a sort of hybrid of Twitch and YouTube, but more of a social network than either of those two platforms.
Roughly 23 million people use BIGO Live on a monthly basis.
#BIGO TV PLUS#
6 globally for downloads, ahead of Disney Plus and Twitch, according to Apptopia data for January through March. Launched in Singapore in 2016, BIGO Live now ranks No. But it’s one of the largest live streaming apps in APAC with around 400 million users across 150 countries. More likely than not, you’ve never heard of BIGO Live.