Tumblr is launching live video this week

Tumblr plans to compete in the fast-crowding live video space, according to a promotional webpage unearthed by Twitter user David Chartier over this past weekend. The page, livevideo.tumblr.com, features a programming schedule and a launch date of June 21st, though the date may not be set in stone. TechCrunch confirmed today the images are indeed Tumblr advertising material for the new platform. It's unclear how the company's live video ambitions will shape up, and whether it will resemble anything like Facebook Live, Twitter's Periscope, or Amazon-owned Twitch.

The New York-based social network, which is owned by Yahoo, has been a steadily growing destination for internet musings of all sorts since its launch in 2007. As of January 2016, Tumblr has about 555 million monthly visitors and hosts more than 300 million blogs. The site is extremely versatile, and it can be used to post or reblog an endless string of random GIFs and images or to construct a well-polished standalone website. Where live-streaming fits in is an open question, as Tumblr has not traditionally been known as a place to watch video unless it's being linked from elsewhere.

Yep, Tumblr is adding live video. Let the games begin! https://t.co/bM6LyplYrk

— David Chartier (@chartier) June 19, 2016

• ViaDavid Chartier (Twitter)
• SourceTumblr