Hornet and ParshipMeet Group collaborate to operate the largest queer live streaming platform in the world
West Hollywood, Calif., Sept. 28, 2021 — Hornet Networks, the world’s queer social network, today announced the launch of Version 7.5, bringing hotly anticipated video live-streaming to its 35 million users. Doubling down on the success from ephemeral video stories of Version 7, launched last fall, Hornet is now providing another way for queer people to express themselves safely and authentically, all while connected to their community anytime, anywhere.
Hornet Live is being launched and operated with ParshipMeet Group’s vPaaS (video Platform as a Service) technology, which already powers nine of the world’s largest dating and social apps with live streaming video. Across their network, vPaaS supports over 8 million viewers and over 1 million broadcasters each month. This partnership is the group’s second app in the queer space since launching live video on GROWLr in April 2020.
The vPaaS technology encapsulates years of livestream video R&D and tens of millions of dollars of investment in innovation, software and features. ParshipMeet Group will also operate its industry-leading AI moderation, complemented by 700+ human moderators, to keep the queer community safe, plus a 30+ person talent team to manage all talent recruitment needs.
Hornet Live streamers can receive virtual gifts, which they will be able to redeem for cash. Building on the huge success of ephemeral video, Hornet is confident it will see significantly more viewers and more gifting than is typical on non-queer platforms. Each ephemeral video on Hornet, for instance, sees an average of 1,000 views and 150 engagements (likes, comments, awards given), while top trending videos on Hornet see a thousand times more than that — all of which is orders of magnitude higher than video engagement on non-queer platforms like TikTok or Instagram.
“Queer influencers now have even more ways to authentically express themselves by going live with their talents, their ideas, their dreams,” says Christof Wittig, co-founder and CEO at Hornet Networks. “Our users have been waiting for this feature, and we’re super excited to finally ship Hornet Live and to offer a huge new revenue opportunity to queer influencers, while never compromising the safety and authenticity of LGBTQ people around the world.”
“We’re incredibly excited to partner with Hornet to power live video on the world’s leading queer social network,” says Geoff Cook, Co-CEO at ParshipMeet Group and CEO at The Meet Group. “Building community and connection is our mission, and live video deepens community for our partners while providing extraordinary monetization. We look forward to working with the Hornet team to grow Live in their dynamic community.”
The recently updated Hornet Creator Playbook guides influencers on how to make the most of Hornet Live in terms of engagement, becoming a Top Streamer, and maximizing gift revenue.
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About Hornet
Hornet is the world’s queer social network with over 35 million diverse users, providing a community home base that is available anytime, anywhere. Amplifying the radical, affirmative power of the queer community with cutting-edge technology, users feel comfortable sharing their experiences with friends who understand and validate their life. To find out more, please visit: hornet.com
Press contact: press@hornet.com
About ParshipMeet Group
ParshipMeet Group is an international market leader in online dating. With its uniquely diverse business approach, the company covers the whole spectrum of the online dating market, ranging from social dating with a strong entertainment component based on live video streaming, to serious matchmaking. ParshipMeet Group’s brand portfolio consists of internationally successful and established brands with complementary strengths. Social dating and entertainment apps MeetMe, Skout, Tagged, and GROWLr focus on social connections, entertainment, and community. Matchmaking services such as eharmony or European-based Parship use scientific methods to help people find their partner for a compatible, happy long-term relationship. Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, the company currently employs a workforce of more than 1,100 in eight offices worldwide. To find out more, please visit: www.parshipmeet.com
Press contact: Kim Plyler, kim@sahlcomm.com
Featured image at top: Xavier Lorenzo / Getty Images
