Yahoo released the metrics for the Howard Stern celebration and the number came to over 4.4 million streams of live video on December 16th. Additionally, more than 214,000 watched the activities after his final day on terrestrial radio. This is the largest live entertainment webcast.
As part of the live video and audio webcast, Yahoo escorted Stern on a Yahoo!-branded double-decker bus after his final FM radio show to an exclusive SIRIUS special event at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, where he was feted by Martha Stewart and Sheryl Crow. The show, which lasted over four and 1/2 hours, featured interviews with Howard and his cast members including, Robin Quivers, Gary Dell’Abate, Fred Norris, Artie Lang and other celebrity guests.
Through integrated services such as Yahoo 360, Flickr, Yahoo! Podcasts, Yahoo Messenger with Voice, Yahoo Groups, Yahoo Message Boards and other elements, many fans participated in the “Howard Nation on Yahoo” community and personally engaged in the day’s events by sharing photos, offering messages and tributes. As a result, there were more than 10,000 new group members, more than 1100 photos shared via Flickr, which were viewed half a million times and over 122,000 Yahoo! Podcast streams in association with the Howard Nation community.
Howard Stern will be making his debut on SIRIUS satellite radio on January 9, 2006. SIRIUS reports the Howard Stern webcast produced dramatic results in retail sales from users clicking through the Yahoo site. The four retailers listed on the Howard Stern live event site — Best Buy, Circuit City, Radio Shack, and Crutchfield — each reported sales far above their average business, and, in some cases, sales above their ‘best’ selling days of the year.
John Stith is a staff writer for murdok covering technology and business.
