News of Michael Jackson's death last month nearly shut down the Internets with interest and confusion as people went online to check and discuss the news. Today is the pop singer's memorial service in Los Angeles and online news channels and video hubs are preparing for similar levels of traffic.
Everyone - from the BBC to USA Today and MySpace - is planning to live stream the service, which is today at 10:00 PST at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. If viewer interest comes anywhere near the level expected by these sites, the whole Internet might shut down. Alternately, it could illustrate the potential of online video left untouched by profit motives.
Jackson's funeral service is expected to be an unprecedented draw online. The Times of London thinks it will be the "biggest online event ever." And while a live event this large could be a windfall for advertising, putting brands next to such content would be a bit, well, unseemly.
Which is why the content is going to be live online anyhow. TMZ, CNN.com, E! Online, ABC News, Fox News, Hulu, MySpace, and CBS News will all be streaming the service starting at 1:00 EST. (Theoretically, you can also watch at the bottom of this post, as Hulu is giving an embed code to viewers.)
All the major networks will also be airing the service on television. And those of you away from a computer or television for more than five minutes today can also find it on your cellphone!
Network television is hesistant to part with any footage that can be attached to advertising content because it is still far more profitable to silo content on television than to stream it on the web.
NBC Universal's chief Jeff Zucker has repeatedly stated that his network will not be streaming profitable live content for the foreseeable future: "I wouldn’t want to devalue the price of the Olympics or the Super Bowl or whatever it is."
But live footage of a news event, or in this case a memorial service, is a more unwieldy topic for advertising. While it promises to be a star-studded event with a massive audience both at the site and around the world, even the most aggressive brands would hesitate to put their logo next to people trying to mourn.
"You don't want to overpower an event like that with advertising," says Forrester principle analyst David Card. "It wants to be tasteful and fairly lowkey. It does not feel like the BET Awards, which were able to harness the energy of the industry for the event in an entertaining and respectful way."
The result is that networks have little to lose by putting the footage on the web.
Live footage is still a windfall for the networks — NBC brought in over $10 billion during the Olympics this summer. But many viewers won't be able to watch the event live on television. Happening during the day when most people at work, many regular television viewers interested in joining the conversation will take to their computer screens to watch.
Political speeches serve a similar purpose — Obama's first speech as president was an international event online that actually slowed web surfers' usage of Google. But the death of a pop icon has the potential to overshadow even that online audience.
It remains to be seen if sites streaming the footage or services like Twitter will receive the bulk of the Jackson interest. But whether demand meets the expectations of networks and video hubs today or not, the viewing will prove a powerful testing ground for where interest in online video sits today.
Photo: Getty
Based in New York, Meghan Keane is US Editor of Econsultancy. You can follow her on Twitter: @keanesian.
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6:25PM on 7th July 2009
Tribute to Michael Jackson -1958 -2009
Gone One Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIzhIxTQ7DY
Gone Too Soon - sub lyrics
"Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight"
"Here One Day"
"Gone One Night"
"You are among greats now - among god's angels in heaven"
+++ Rest In Peace..Michael Jackson 1958 -2009 - R.I.P +++
The World Tour 2009 - 2010
"This is it..This really is it - the final curtain" - Michael Jackson
What he wanted to achieve in life he has managed to achieve in "DEATH"
On the 7 July 2009 - thw world stopped for Michael Jackson - he got a global audience a world tour in death
This is it..This is it - the final curtain" - Michael Jackson
This was the worldl tour that Michael Jackson was telling the world/London about..everyone -
"they say you need to be careful what you wish for in life"
Strange words now haunting the world today, 7th July 2009..
In a strange twisted way - his death has turned into the "Greatest Show/Global Tour On Earth"
Since the announcement of his death 26 June 2009 - the entire world have been gripped by "Michael Jackson"
He touched everyone's soul across all generations, across all countries, across all race...
He was a "Music Icon, a fashion Style Icon and a Unique Individual"
We salute you for giving us and sharing your music with us ALL,
And spreading the gift of love and affection across the world.
Lets remember his legacy - Michael Jackson At His Best - Enjoy ;-
Video shows MJ so relaxed and happiest as ever -"With Tito Kids - 3Ts-Brotherhood"
Michael Jackson With The 3Ts -
Video = Song ; Why = Album =Brotherhood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIzhIxTQ7DY
P.S My message to you ALL "Live in the moment" -
Thanks for sharing.
One of my fav song is"Gone Too Soon" everyone share this with me..
song tribute to "Ryan White"..
Gone Too Soon - {here's the video clip} enjoy
Lyrics by Buz Kohan.
Produced by Michael Jackson.
Like A Comet
Blazing 'Cross The Evening Sky
Gone Too Soon
Like A Rainbow
Fading In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Gone Too Soon
Shiny And Sparkly
And Splendidly Bright
Here One Day
Gone One Night
Like The Loss Of Sunlight
On A Cloudy Afternoon
Gone Too Soon
Like A Castle
Built Upon A Sandy Beach
Gone Too Soon
Like A Perfect Flower
That Is Just Beyond Your Reach
Gone Too Soon
Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day
Gone One Night
Like A Sunset
Dying With The Rising Of The Moon
Gone Too Soon
Gone Too Soon
6:47PM on 7th July 2009
Sorry I posted the wrong url link for "Gone Too Soon
This is the correct link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0mcxmCGetI
Tribute to Michael Jackson -1958 -2009
Gone One Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0mcxmCGetI
Gone Too Soon - sub lyrics
"Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight"
"Here One Day"
"Gone One Night"
"You are among greats now - among god's angels in heaven"
+++ Rest In Peace..Michael Jackson 1958 -2009 - R.I.P +++
The World Tour 2009 - 2010
"This is it..This really is it - the final curtain" - Michael Jackson
What he wanted to achieve in life he has managed to achieve in "DEATH"
On the 7 July 2009 - thw world stopped for Michael Jackson - he got a global audience a world tour in death
This is it..This is it - the final curtain" - Michael Jackson
This was the worldl tour that Michael Jackson was telling the world/London about..everyone -
"they say you need to be careful what you wish for in life"
Strange words now haunting the world today, 7th July 2009..
In a strange twisted way - his death has turned into the "Greatest Show/Global Tour On Earth"
Since the announcement of his death 26 June 2009 - the entire world have been gripped by "Michael Jackson"
He touched everyone's soul across all generations, across all countries, across all race...
He was a "Music Icon, a fashion Style Icon and a Unique Individual"
We salute you for giving us and sharing your music with us ALL,
And spreading the gift of love and affection across the world.
Lets remember his legacy - Michael Jackson At His Best - Enjoy ;-
Video shows MJ so relaxed and happiest as ever -"With Tito Kids - 3Ts-Brotherhood"
Michael Jackson With The 3Ts -
Video = Song ; Why = Album =Brotherhood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIzhIxTQ7DY
P.S My message to you ALL "Live in the moment" -
Thanks for sharing.
One of my fav song is"Gone Too Soon" everyone share this with me..
song tribute to "Ryan White"..
Gone Too Soon - {here's the video clip} enjoy
Lyrics by Buz Kohan.
Produced by Michael Jackson.
Like A Comet
Blazing 'Cross The Evening Sky
Gone Too Soon
Like A Rainbow
Fading In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Gone Too Soon
Shiny And Sparkly
And Splendidly Bright
Here One Day
Gone One Night
Like The Loss Of Sunlight
On A Cloudy Afternoon
Gone Too Soon
Like A Castle
Built Upon A Sandy Beach
Gone Too Soon
Like A Perfect Flower
That Is Just Beyond Your Reach
Gone Too Soon
Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day
Gone One Night
Like A Sunset
Dying With The Rising Of The Moon
Gone Too Soon
Gone Too Soon
11:29AM on 8th July 2009
A GOOD ONLINE EARNING OPPORTUNITY
SEND VIDEO E-MAILS EARN MONEY ONLINE
COMPANY NAME : MY VIDEO TALK TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD.
(USA BASED MNC COMPANY)
COMPANY NEEDS ONLINE SALES EXECUTIVES / PART TIME ONLINEWORKERS.
MORE DETAILS VISIT THIS BLOG
A good online earning opportunity visit
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www.myvideotalkindia.com/examples.asp
SEE HERE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
www.myvideotalkindia.com/business.asp
JOIN HERE
www.myvideotalkindia.com/enroll.asp
REFER ID : 147676
Or write mail : mvtharish138@gmail.com
11:32AM on 8th July 2009
A GOOD ONLINE EARNING OPPORTUNITY
SEND VIDEO E-MAILS EARN MONEY ONLINE
COMPANY NAME : MY VIDEO TALK TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD.
(USA BASED MNC COMPANY)
COMPANY NEEDS ONLINE SALES EXECUTIVES / PART TIME ONLINEWORKERS.
MORE DETAILS VISIT THIS BLOG
A good online earning opportunity visit
http://usafuturetechnology.blogspot.com
www.myvideotalkindia.com/examples.asp
SEE HERE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
www.myvideotalkindia.com/business.asp
JOIN HERE
www.myvideotalkindia.com/enroll.asp
REFER ID : 147676
Or write mail : mvtharish138@gmail.com
12:56PM on 8th July 2009
People will never forget this best father and the super pop star. The millions of fans will never miss any chance to be close to Michael Jackson and his songs. Here are ways to repeat Michael Jackson Memorial services, share your Michael Jackson memories:
1. Don’t miss this memorial service, for I have said that it is the last chance to say goodbye to the super star. If you weren't one of the lucky 8,750 fans to win a pair of tickets to Jackson's memorial service on the spot, don’t worry. Where to watch and download Michael Jackson memorial service?
The Michael Jackson memorial service here:
CNN:
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2009/07/07/dcl.ortega.jackson.cnn?iref=videosearch
YouTube: Daddy has been the best father I could imagine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzHJyKkEOHQ&feature=topvideos
Yahoo:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_michael_jackson
TV.com
http://www.tv.com/story/16248.html
2. Make a backup of the memorial service for storage. You can burn these video clips to DVD for easy storage so that you can memorize the touching scene forever.
3. Never miss any beautiful track you like. Pick up your favorite DVD collections about Michael Jackson.
the best way to repeat your Michael Jackson memories is to treasure up my favorite Michael Jackson DVDs , playback on your portable player
seo user at webtalent
3:11PM on 8th July 2009
As i watch the concert tribute to the King of Pop Michael Jackson it was really a heartbreaking circumtances and very memorable events this year......
social media consultants