See internet stars perform live

 

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Posted on 13 Nov 2008 at 16:13

YouTube will run a live webcast with an event featuring world famous performers, alongside personalities who have become recognised using the video sharing site to showcase their talents.

"For nearly three years the YouTube community has been defining pop-culture and in the process has made the site both a place to find and be found," said YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley.

"YouTube at its core is a platform where everyone from the famous to the seemingly unknown shares a single stage and YouTube Live is a physical manifestation of this idea."

The event, entitled YouTube Live, will feature the likes of Will.I.Am from the Black-Eyed-Peas and Akon - alongside artists who came to prominence on YouTube: rapper Soulja Boy Tell'em, singer Esm?Denters - whose home recorded covers attracted more than 111 million views on YouTube - and guitarist Funtwo.

YouTube Live will also feature a group of long-time YouTube community members and filmmakers - touted as the 'Vlog Squad' - offering behind-the-scenes access from different areas of the venue. The event will be aired on November 23rd at 1am UK time.

The one-off event has sparked a lot speculation that YouTube may soon begin to offer more live webcasts on the video file sharing site from some of its partners, but the website confirmed to Shopper that there are no plans to launch such a service.

Meanwhile, X-Factor TV production company Fremantle Media has partnered with YouTube to launch content specific to the video sharing site. The company currently airs videos of last year's X-Factor and Australian TV series Hole in the Wall on their own YouTube channels. It has now launched an array of new content for the YouTube community, including comedies ToyBoize, Project V, and Atomic Wedgie along with puppet show JUH-show.

"The consumer continues to seek out rich and varied online video entertainment driven by the burgeoning growth of new media around the world," said Claire Tavernier, vice president at FremantleMedia's subsidiary FMX.

"This agreement means that FremantleMedia's production teams will be able to automatically consider YouTube as part of their creative process for developing, distributing and promoting new television series."

YouTube also recently partnered with movie studio MGM to show full-length feature films on the website for the first time, although the videos are exclusive to US users.

Author: Dawinderpal Sahota