YouTube is the industry leader for pre-recorded online video, but Justin.tv claims to be the innovator in online LIVE streaming video. Justin.tv uses live streaming video feeds which enable users to follow people, sports, video games, etc… in real time. Users are also encouraged to make comments about the video feeds in real time, which appear in a chat box beside the video player.

Created in 2006 by a team of MIT and Yale graduates, the Justin.tv platform pushes more than 177 Gbps of video at peak usage - the equivalent of 16,946 standard DVD’s per hour. With more than 41 million unique visitors per month and 428,000 channels broadcasting live, users can create real-time connections with others around the world.

The video feeds are divided into the following categories:

• Social
• Entertainment
• Gaming
• Sports
• News and Events
• Animals
• Science and Tech
• Educational
• Storm Chasers

I will admit that this service seems a little intrusive and odd, but people are producing content and are willing to have their lives on display. With this service you could actually watch paint dry … FOR HOURS ON END!

I am not sure if this is the evolution or the regression of online streaming video, but you can check it out and form your own opinions at www.justin.tv.