As creators hit the White House, DNC plans vertical convention stream

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is updating its distribution strategy ahead of its upcoming convention — but will the change convince young voters to tune in?

Representatives for the DNC told Axios that the Committee will offer a vertical video stream of the Democratic National Convention, which will kick off in Chicago on August 19 and run through the 22nd. It’s the first time the convention stream has been made available in a format that fits on app-based platforms like TikTok.

The vertically-oriented stream will be available on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. It will be accompanied by a more traditional, horizontally oriented stream that will look familiar to viewers who have watched previous political conventions on digital platforms.

The horizontal stream will be available on Twitch, X, and Amazon Prime Video. Viewers will also be able to get direct access to the convention feed by tuning into streaming services like Apple TV and Roku.

The basic idea behind the diversified streaming options is clear: The 2024 presidential race is already shaping up to be the first true “influencer election

,” and governmental figures are doing whatever they can to connect with groups that can sway the political opinions of young voters. That’s why President Biden invited 100 digital tastemakers to the White House for the inaugural Creator Economy Conference, which foregrounded issues affecting influencers just five days before the start of the Democratic convention.

But despite the Dems’ efforts, they cannot guarantee that young voters will be interested in the convention. Axios notes that the “vast majority” of convention viewers are over the age of 55. In an age when Gen Z creators are harnessing digital platforms to supercharge their political messages, will their fans buck previous viewership trends?

We’ll get an answer to that question when the rubber-stamping of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris begins on the 19th. Creator communities will have more access to the convention than ever before, and it will be up to them to take advantage of that opportunity.