The worldwide series of Live Earth concerts set a new record for online streams delivered, reports Reuters (via MarketingVOX). But the concert proved a ratings disappointment in the UK for BBC1 on Saturday, drawing less than a third of the audience who tuned in last week for the Concert for Diana, Media Guardian reports.
While actual audience numbers were not available, MSN said over nine million streams from the concerts were delivered. That surpasses the old record of eight million streams set by the Live 8 concerts in 2005. While each stream likely does not translate into one person, that’s still a dramatic step forward.
Live Earth organizers estimate that, like Live 8 before it, the majority of streams will actually come in the weeks following the event.
BBC1’s audience for the event at Wembley stadium peaked with 4.5 million viewers and 25 percent share, according to unofficial overnights. That compared with the 14.8 million and 60 percent peak for the Diana concert last Sunday. Over the course of the evening, the concert attracted an average of 2.7 million viewers, a 17 percent share.
Criticism remains about celebrities “who own Escalades, private jets and McMansions” telling people to carpool, The New York Times reports. That credibility gap, according to The Times, has fueled much of the skepticism and sniping along the sidelines.
On television the whole event was smoothly corporate and conventional. On NBC performances by Ludacris, Madonna and the Police were punctuated with commercials for the Apple iPhone and Procter & Gamble’s Pantene.
Apple was probably not very pleased when David de Rothschild, author of “The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook,” urged viewers to stay away from hot new gadgets. “The other day this nice new phone came out, and I got really excited,” he told Karen Duffy, a co-master of ceremonies for the Giants Stadium event. Then he said he came to his senses. He urged viewers to combat society’s “consumer idolatry.”
EBAY'S WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM PAYS FOR ITSELF
eBay saves water and energy with a program that'll achieve ROI within 18 months. How much could you save? Go to calculator>>
CLEAN ENERGY DOESN'T GET ANY COOLER THAN THIS
Hybrid Cooling Solutions from Ice Energy. There's no cooler way to improve your bottom line. Discover the power of Ice. >>
FINALLY! NEXT-GENERATION CARBON MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FOR BUSINESSES
Clear Standards environmental intelligence software helps businesses measure, analyze, and reduce their carbon footprint. No more spreadsheets! >>
The other day while out shopping for Energy Star rated household appliances with my wife, I got to wondering why we ... continue »
The EU cap-and-trade system has operated well and has had little or no negative impact on the overall EU economy, according to ...
click to view full size chart »
Political and business leaders are warning that Britain faces a sharp rise in its tax bill to fund the country's move to ...
Join the Discussion