Zoom launches ticketed events platform

Video-calling software provider Zoom is set to launch its OnZoom events platform and marketplace to allow for ticketed online experiences.

The new platform is launching in beta with live events for fitness, music and art online events, with the company stating that it had “added event discovery and monetisation features” for online versions of “traditionally in-person events”.

Tickets can be sold for events with up to 1,000 attendees, and Zoom will not take a cut of ticket sales during the OnZoom public testing period, which is expected to last at least through 2020.

Zoom currently accepts PayPal and credit card payments, with the team saying that it may look into other payment options in the future.

Zoom users must have paid subscriptions and be located in the US to create single or repeating events through OnZoom, and people must have accounts and be located in the US to join the events. The service will become available globally in 2021.

The company said in a statement: “We were humbled and inspired by all of the amazing ways the world adapted to a literal shutdown of in-person events amid COVID-19. When business owners, entrepreneurs, and organisations of all sizes had to find some way – any way – to stay the course and continue providing services to their customers, many turned to Zoom. OnZoom simplifies that experience.

“An extension of Zoom’s unified communications platform, OnZoom is a comprehensive solution for paid Zoom users to create, host, and monetise events like fitness classes, concerts, stand-up or improv shows, and music lessons on the Zoom Meetings platform.”

The number of people who can attend is based on the host’s Zoom subscription level.

For non-profits looking to use the platform for a fundraising event, Zoom is integrating the ability to receive donations through events via its partnership with Pledgeling.

Zoom’s website will provide a directory of events that people can join, and is hosting its virtual Zoomtopia user conference this week. The firm also announced integrations of third-party apps, or Zapps, into its software from Atlassian, ServiceNow, Salesforce, Slack and other online tools.

With many events moving online during the Covid-19 pandemic, Zoom shares have risen more than 600 per cent this year, and in August, the firm integrated ticketing platform Tixoom to allow event creators using the platform to collect payment or donations.