BFI channel on YouTube attracts over a quarter of a million hits
Since launching 'publicly' last month the BFI's YouTube channel has now attracted over 260,000 hits, with more than 22,000 views each for two of the films alone.
Since launching 'publicly' last month the BFI's YouTube channel has now attracted over 260,000 hits, with more than 22,000 views each for two of the films alone. The official launch was marked by a visit to the BFI National Archive from The Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, who said: "Making the films in the archive available through YouTube takes them directly into people's homes for millions more to enjoy."
Although the BFI channel was created some months back, we wanted to test initial reactions and launch publicly with a critical mass of content. In all there are now 186 complete films and extracts to watch on the channel.
The 1968 Darling do you love me?, featuring Germaine Greer, takes the lead as the most requested film, with over 10,000 within a single 24 hour period alone. Close behind is Snow, Geoffrey Jones's poetic documentary showing how the railways survived the infamous winter of 1963.
Also included on the channel is a large number of Mitchell & Kenyon titles, which is giving us real reach across the UK and stirring up some passionate debate. The most watched M&K title is Tynemouth Swimming Gala in Haven, North Shields (1901) with scenes that could almost have come from Monty Python. Men in top hats swim a course to a boat, get changed into their tails and jump off again into the water with umbrellas! Leeds Athletic and Sporting Club Carnival (1902) shows some daring athleticism with barrels on trestle tables - not exactly Olympic standard, but the spirit is there!
The channel has 570 subscribers and growing, with feedback on the site indicating that we are hitting whole new demographics, including a much younger audience and many people in other countries too. Particularly pleasing is the very high average rating that all of our films have received from users - the lowest figure for any title is 4 stars out of a maximum of 5.
Top 10 requested films:
1. DARLING, DO YOU LOVE ME? (1968)
2. SNOW (1963)
3. NUDE WOMAN BY A WATERFALL (1920)
4. COLOUR ON THE THAMES (1935)
9. WOMEN'S RIGHTS AKA LADIES SKIRTS NAILED TO A FENCE (1899)
