Zoom opens platform for paid events

New York — The fast-growing online video app Zoom said Wednesday it would open its platform to paid events to help performers, teachers and others monetize their activity.

The announcement of the new service called OnZoom comes after a similar initiative by Facebook to help people and groups unable to hold in-person events because of pandemic restrictions.

“The difficult period we are going through has taught us that it’s possible to work remotely,” said Zoom founder and chief executive Eric Yuan, who announced the new service at the company’s Zoomtopia conference.

“The future of communications will be a hybrid of the best physical and virtual practices.”

OnZoom will allow users to host and monetize events like yoga classes, concerts, comedy shows and music lessons, according to the company which has seen a surge in usage since the start of the pandemic.

“We were humbled and inspired by all of the amazing ways the world adapted to a literal shutdown of in-person events,” Zoom product manager Aleks Swerdlow said.