Oct 30 2009
10 million watch U2ube concert webcast
YouTube have labelled their latest big media stunt, a live concert webcast, as a ‘big win for the community’. Reports suggest upwards of ten million viewers logged on to watch Irish rockers U2 perform at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena at 3AM on Sunday morning.
Further reports suggest anybody who got up early to watch the show is clinically insane, seeing as it is currently being rebroadcast for viewing at any time — and in higher quality to boot — via the video sharing website. Over 1 million people have already done so within less than a week of the original broadcast, which is being hailed as a record for an internet streaming event.
The concert could possibly pave the way for other artists to embark upon similar webcasts, but is unlikely to tempt rockney duo Chas and Dave out of retirement. Had one of them known how to work a computer, things would be different.
As it is, Chas can’t even stop his desktop clock from displaying Pacific Standard time, which is of no use to somebody living thousands of miles away from human civilisation in the UK. Dave has had a bit more success, but struggles with the concept of an inanimate mouse - he still thinks they are powered by cheese.
The Department for YouTube Research have found that the 1.1 million views of U2’s concert account for more than 40% of this week’s total viewing figures on the website. Coming in a close second are Postal Gold remixes, whilst videos with the audio removed now annoy an average of ten brazillion internet users every second.
Cats playing Chopin are still massively popular, making up 13% of this week’s viewership, and a man slipping on a banana peel has been viewed by a total of twelve people over the past seven days. Whoever said slapstick is dead?
YouTube are said to be ‘considering’ future live broadcasts of other events such as barrel rolling and frog throwing. A spokesman was unavailable for comment as he was rolling in a pile of cash at the time.
