The Berlin Phil Goes Digital

The Berlin Philharmonic has recently launched an online innovation-- the digital concert hall.  In an effort to make their performances more affordable and accessible to the masses, the digital concert hall streams the orchestra's performance in high definition-- complete with swooping shots and close-ups.  Eager viewers must pay 9.90 Euros per performance, or 149 Euros for a season pass.  Currently the program is not making money.  The orchestra's PR chief, Elisabeth Hilsdorf, indicates that while viewership averages about 2,000 people per event, 6,000-7,000 are necessary to break even.

While I'm excited to see that the Berlin Philharmonic is reaching out and making an effort to bring their performances into the digital age, I was surprised to see that they're charging for tickets.  One wouldn't pay to tune in on television, or to watch on YouTube, so are people willing to pay for this service?  My instinct is probably not.  It would seem that people who are willing to commit that much money to watching an online performance would likely be willing to shell out a little more to see it live.  Possibly because the orchestra is so well known, die-hard fans who are unable to attend for geographical reasons might be willing to purchase tickets for the digital concert hall.  Streaming performances is a great idea, but perhaps more as an outreach project than a financial venture.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/11/berlin-philharmonic-by-way-of-the-world-wide-web.html

-Katie