In a first, Reliance Industries streams results live on Facebook

Exactly a month after Facebook allowed live streaming of commercial events, Reliance Industries on Tuesday took to the social networking site to announce its results for the third quarter of this financial year. Company officials said it was among the first such live posts in India.

The live video featured the company's chief financial officer Alok Agarwal make a presentation on the financial and operational performance, which was also featured on the group's YouTube channel "Flame of Truth" as also on its Twitter handle -- a 19:14-minute presentation.

In a statement, Facebook had said on December 17 last year that in August, after introducing live streaming for public figures, thousands of athletes, musicians, politicians and others used the media to connect with their millions of fans behind the scenes in real time.

"Today we're beginning to roll out the ability for verified pages with a blue badge to share live video using Facebook for iOS," it said, adding this will enable sports teams, media firms, brands and other verified users to break news, take fans behind the scenes, host Q&As and more.

One of the examples featured by Facebook on this new media avenue was by the Indian cricket team, featuring a live, 19:30-minute session with ace batsman Ajinkya Rahane, during which he was posed written questions on Facebook while the replies were live-streamed.

When contacted, a spokesperson for Reliance Industries confirmed the help extended by Facebook to set up the live-streaming. The event, verified via the page of a media director, was also tested for various parameters.

"Three quarters ago we had pioneered the reach-out via YouTube. Facebook's now the all-important platform for our CFO's discerning analysis to reach the global audience," the spokesperson told IANS.