Apple to live-stream September special event on YouTube for first time

Apple on Friday posted a placeholder to its official YouTube channel informing fans that it will be using the popular video-sharing platform to stream next week's special media event.

As seen in the screenshot above, Apple plans to stream the Sept. 10 event live on YouTube in what will be a first for the company.

While Apple routinely offers live video coverage of its product unveilings on Apple.com and through the Apple Events app, and later uploads those presentations to YouTube, the company has never leveraged Google's platform to host an event livestream. Considering YouTube's near ubiquity, Apple's decision opens viewing options to a myriad of mobile, desktop and streaming devices.

Fans interested in watching the stream on YouTube rather than Apple's own platform can visit the company's page and set a localized reminder for showtime.

Apple has in the past used similar mechanisms to advertise upcoming events on social media outlets. Last year, for example, the company issued a promoted tweet from its official Twitter account that, when "liked," enrolled users to receive an automated reminder to tune in to the iPhone XR and XS unveiling. An identical tweet was sent out for 2018's Worldwide Developers Conference.

Apple has yet to tweet out a reminder for the Sept. 10 gathering, but on Thursday updated the Apple Events app for iOS and tvOS in preparation of what is expected to be the introduction of new iPhone and Apple Watch models. Also rumored to debut are Tile-like tracker devices for use with iPhone and potentially a special "one more thing" surprise.

AppleInsider will provide live coverage of the event starting at 10 a.m. Pacific.

32 Comments

8thman 34 comments · 20 Years

About 5 years ago

I often feel Apple may have missed a big opportunity in not buying YouTube many years ago. Though monetizing it may have been the issue. Not sure if Apple wanted to have it be ad based.

Does AppleInsider have any info on Apple ever considering buying YouTube? Sorry if i missed an article.

gatorguy 24608 comments · 13 Years

8thman said:

I often feel Apple may have missed a big opportunity in not buying YouTube many years ago. Though monetizing it may have been the issue. Not sure if Apple wanted to have it be ad based.

Does AppleInsider have any info on Apple ever considering buying YouTube? Sorry if i missed an article.

AFAIK Apple never showed any interest in buying Youtube. They did however have an interest in buying an ad platform, AdMob, and eventually outbid by Google. Not willing to be outdone Apple then bought a different ad placement company, Quattro Wireless.

Apple hasn't always been against ad targeting and they've spent hundreds of $millions trying to be successful with it. They just haven't been very good making money from it so far but still have a fingertip in the game. They haven't completely given up.

cornchip 1943 comments · 11 Years

Weird. WTF wants to bother with YouTube when one can just watch it on the apple site?

jonagold 31 comments · 8 Years

cornchip said:

Weird. WTF wants to bother with YouTube when one can just watch it on the apple site?

Watching video in a browser is so...year 200X. Sarcasm aside, I was always surprised these events weren’t streamed directly through iTunes/Apple Music, but I suppose a web browser is more universally available to a wider non-Apple audience. I’d be surprised if either if those apps weren’t capable of hosting a live video stream.

nikos 1 comment · 5 Years

It can’t hurt to make the steams available from other locations. My only concern is with watching from YouTube is the incessant ads every few minutes. If that’s what going to happen with the live stream Apple should just make it available as a replay.