YouTube trials live streaming service

YouTube has started a two-day trial of a live streaming service as parent firm Google aims to become the premier real-time content provider on the internet.

The world's largest video site has already experimented with live streaming, showcasing events such as the Indian Premier League and President Obama's State of the Union address from the White House.

However, YouTube is now taking this to the next level with programming designed to simulate TV content.

Programmes for the trial will be created by YouTube partners Howcast, Next New Networks, Rocketboom and Young Hollywood.

"Based on the results of this initial test, we will evaluate rolling out the platform more broadly to our partners worldwide," said YouTube product manager Joshua Siegel and product marketing manager Christopher Hamilton in a blog post.

"Bear with us as we test this new platform as there may be some bumps along the way. Please share your feedback in the comments section."

The site will also test a Live Comments feed, which will let users have conversations with the broadcaster and members of the YouTube community.

The trial follows the showcasing of Google TV at the IFA event last week, in which a seamless transition from watching TV to browsing the internet was shown on a Sony Bravia screen.

Brittany Bohnet, a product marketing manager at Google, said at the demonstration that in the future "people will never want to buy a TV without an internet browser".

Google chief executive Eric Schmidt hinted that Google TV will not be a " passive viewing" experience, probably referring to the Live Comments feature undergoing trials on YouTube.