Brits to be streamed live on YouTube for fans outside UK
Written by admin on 12th February 2014
This year’s Brit Awards will be streamed live on YouTube for the first time for viewers outside the UK.
However, the stream will not be seen within the UK where fans will have to watch live coverage on ITV1.
Music fans from around the world will also be able to vote for best British video during the show using Twitter.
Acts including Arctic Monkeys, Pharrell Williams and Disclosure are on the bill for the event, which will take place on 19 February.
The Brits will be hosted by James Cordon for the fifth and final time this year at London’s O2 Arena.
The nominees in the British video category will be revealed on 10 February on the Brits YouTube page.
The shortlist will be based on official YouTube views.
Viewers outside the UK will see behind-the-scenes footage and interviews during advert breaks which are scheduled into the event, but will see the same feed of images broadcast by ITV during the show itself.
Downloads of performances will be sold through iTunes with proceeds going to War Child and the Brit Trust.
Brits chairman Christian Tattersfield said: “By adding the first ever social vote and YouTube live stream we are taking the Brits to a whole new level, offering a dynamic, engaging and fully interactive experience for fans everywhere.”
Geoff Taylor, chief executive of music industry trade body BPI, said: “The live vote on Twitter means that viewers world-wide will decide on the night who made the best British music video.
“Given the phenomenal success of British music overseas and the huge importance of social media to our artists, it’s right that the Brits should become a truly global, digital event.”
Disclosure and Bastille lead the nominations for this year’s awards, having both been named in four categories each.
They are named in the British breakthrough act category, which also includes Bastille, Laura Mvula, London Grammar and Tom Odell.
Voting for the award is open now.
Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Bastille, Rudimental, Ellie Goulding and Lorde will also perform at the event.
Viewers in the UK will be able to watch the event on ITV1 and ITV Player.
(Source: BBC News)
