What happened
On August 19, 2019, Reddit launched the Reddit Public Access Network, or RPAN, an experiment that brought live video broadcasting to the platform for the first time. Initially framed as a limited-time trial, RPAN let users stream live video that was then subject to Reddit's signature upvote system, so popular broadcasts rose in visibility much like posts. The pilot was tightly constrained — available only weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific, capped at 100 concurrent streams of up to 30 minutes each, and personally moderated by Reddit staff to keep out NSFW or rule-breaking content.
The playful name nodded to the public-access cable channels of the past, and early broadcasts ranged from earnest talk shows to users streaming their cats and lamps. What began as a five-day test proved popular enough to become a permanent feature, expanding hours and capabilities over time. RPAN reflected Reddit's continued push into video and real-time formats, experimenting with the kind of creator-driven live content that platforms like Twitch and YouTube had popularized, while keeping the community-voting mechanics that distinguished Reddit.