Facebook Live allows users to broadcast live video streams to their followers. These live videos allow for real-time engagement between broadcasters and viewers. However, live videos on Facebook are not available permanently like traditional Facebook posts. There is a time limit for how long a Facebook Live video remains viewable.
Live Video Availability
When a Facebook Live video ends, it remains viewable for a limited period of time. The exact availability window depends on the length of the original broadcast.
- Live videos less than 4 hours long remain available for viewing for 24 hours after the broadcast ends.
- Live videos between 4 and 24 hours long remain viewable for 7 days after the broadcast.
- Live streams longer than 24 hours stay available for 60 days after the end of the video.
So in summary:
| Live Video Length | Availability Period |
|---|---|
| Less than 4 hours | 24 hours |
| 4 – 24 hours | 7 days |
| Over 24 hours | 60 days |
As you can see, the viewing window for Facebook live videos increases incrementally for longer broadcasts. The longest permanence period is 60 days for very long, marathon streaming sessions over 24 hours.
Factors Affecting Availability
There are a few other factors that can affect the availability period of Facebook live videos:
- Deletion – If a video is deleted by the owner or removed by Facebook within the viewing period, it will no longer be accessible.
- Copyright violations – Videos removed for copyright infringement are immediately made unavailable.
- Location settings – Videos may have limited availability in certain countries and regions based on location services settings.
As long as videos remain posted and comply with Facebook policies, they will stay viewable for the standard availability window lengths outlined above depending on broadcast duration.
Accessing Past Live Videos
While the viewing period is limited, there are still ways to access past Facebook Live videos:
- The video owner can download the live video from Facebook to preserve it after the availability window closes.
- Other viewers can screen record or use video downloader tools to capture live videos for offline viewing.
- Links can be shared directly to a specific live video, even after live broadcasting ends.
So users can still reference and share previous live videos, though they won’t be readily available like permanent Facebook posts. The original broadcaster has the best options for downloading and retaining their live content.
Live Video Analytics
Facebook provides metrics and analytics so video creators can assess performance even after a live broadcast ends. Analytics include:
- Total views
- Average live viewers
- Peak concurrent viewers
- Comments
- Shares
- Reactions
- Completion rate for viewers
These metrics remain visible through Creator Studio and Facebook Insights even after a live video is no longer available for viewing. Analyzing performance can help creators improve future live streams.
Benefits of Ephemeral Live Videos
The ephemeral nature of Facebook Live videos provides some unique benefits:
- Real-time engagement – Viewers can comment, react, and interact in the moment during a live broadcast.
- Urgency to watch – The limited availability motivates viewers to tune in live.
- Light content moderation – Creators have a window to delete or edit live videos before they become permanently available.
- Encourages future live streams – Knowing videos will not remain forever reduces barriers for creators to start broadcasting.
Overall, the impermanent design of Facebook Live incentivizes and facilitates real-time interaction. For situations where permanence is preferred, creators can download the videos locally or use tools to record live streams.
Best Practices for Live Videos
To maximize viewer engagement and views within the limited availability windows of Facebook Live, here are some best practices:
- Promote upcoming live streams in advance on timelines, in Facebook groups, and across social platforms.
- Send notifications to followers when going live and schedule Live Producer for automated notifications.
- Ask viewers to turn on notifications for future live updates.
- During the broadcast, prompt viewers to like, comment, and share to boost visibility.
- Enable automatic video captions to improve accessibility.
- Highlight interactive features like polls, Q&As and commenting.
Leveraging promotions and viewer prompts can help maximize the reach of live videos while they are available on Facebook. Advanced planning and compelling interactive content are key.
Conclusion
Facebook Live videos have a temporary lifespan, with availability ranging from 24 hours to 60 days depending on the video length. While no longer readily accessible after the window closes, creators and viewers can still reference live videos through links, downloads, and recordings. The ephemeral design creates urgency to tune in live while encouraging more creators to embrace streaming. By promoting live videos and using interactive features, page owners can build an engaged audience around this unique ephemeral content.