Bluesky does not have its own live streaming capabilities, but the service is testing a new feature to increase the number of users broadcasting outside the platform. The company allows “selected” accounts to link their Twitch or YouTube accounts to their profiles, which will display a red indicator and a “live” icon when they are actively broadcasting.
In an update, Bluesky described the feature as an “early test” that will initially be available to “a few accounts” only before it’s ready for a wider launch. “Bluesky is the place to go for real-time breaking news and updates,” the company said. “This tool supports streamers, journalists, and anyone sharing live moments as they happen.”
The update comes a day after the service unveiled a similar icon for the official NBA account on Bluesky. According to Bluesky COO Rose Wang, the league will apparently direct fans on Bluesky to “live content that they promote.” The cooperation with the NBA in this area is an interesting step for Bluesky. Sports fans, and NBA fans in particular, have a huge influence on Twitter culture. And the company, now known as X, has made several high-profile deals with the NBA and other major sports leagues over the years to promote their content.
Notably, Bluesky has no advertising. It uses live indicators to direct users to off-platform content, so it’s unclear if there are any business opportunities for the newcomer platform associated with this feature. But it does show that Bluesky wants to play a bigger role in the conversations that once shaped Twitter’s culture and establish itself as a place to follow live events.
