Opera House Announces YouTube Streaming Partnership

The Sydney Opera House has today announced a two-year partnership with YouTube, which will see 20 live performances streamed on the video site during that period.

In a move that the Opera House say will increase their audience reach locally and internationally, the success of The Temper Trap's streamed concert during Vivid LIVE earlier this year – which attracted 296,000 unique views – appears to be the catalyst for the deal. The first Live At The Sydney Opera House live stream will be announced early in the new year.

The iconic Sydney venue has made a concerted effort in the last five years to embrace contemporary music and widen its audience base. CEO Lousie Herron said today that, “Online video is a major part of our strategy to ensure Opera House experiences are available to anyone, anywhere at any time.

“The past financial year saw our online video views experience 300 percent growth. Over the coming years we expect that the numbers watching on YouTube will match or exceed the 8.2 million who visit our precinct annually.”

Richard North, Head of Music Partnerships YouTube Australia & New Zealand, added the venue operators “have a long-standing commitment to using technology to democratise access to their incredible performances. Building on hugely successful events like YouTube Symphony Orchestra and Vivid LIVE 2012, this new, long-term partnership is going to open up even more of the Opera House's events to our 800 million strong monthly audience.”

Next year the Sydney Opera House will host shows by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Dead Can Dance, Neil Finn & Paul Kelly, Wilco, The Tallest Man On Earth, Kings Of Convenience, Birdy and more.