31.1 million watched Jackson memorial

[vivfox]

Millions more viewed Tuesday’s event live on their computers

NEW YORK - Some 31.1 million people in the United States watched the Michael Jackson memorial on television, with millions more catching video streams on their computers.

The Nielsen Media Research estimate on Wednesday provided only a slice of the audience for the Los Angeles event. But it did offer insight on how the memorial compared to other events: President Barack Obama’s inauguration in January was seen by 38 million people on TV, and the “American Idol” finale in May had 28.9 million viewers.

Eighteen different networks carried the memorial live, including all the big broadcasters and cable news stations, along with MTV, BET and the three largest Spanish-language stations. It had an audience share of 56, meaning that 56 percent of the televisions turned on during the memorial were tuned into Jackson.

Nielsen does not immediately have an estimate of Jackson’s worldwide audience, a task that could take weeks.

Twelve years ago, 33.2 million people in the U.S. watched Princess Diana’s funeral. That happened early on a Saturday morning, as opposed to the middle of a workday, and people then didn’t have the option of watching it on their computers.

Complete estimates of the Internet audience were not immediately available, but individual Web sites reported some heavy traffic. MSNBC.com said it streamed nearly 19 million videos on Tuesday, a record for the site. Video streamers spent an average of 12 minutes on the site, MSNBC.com reported.

CNN.com said it had 10.5 million live streams, the second busiest day in its history. It streamed nearly 27 million videos on Obama’s inauguration day. ABC News said its Web site had nearly 6 million video streams, with traffic up 70 percent over a typical day.

Nielsen said 3 percent of the online conversations on Tuesday were about the Jackson memorial, the third-highest percentage it has ever seen after the day Jackson died and Obama’s inauguration. Early indications are that Wednesday’s percentage was higher than Tuesday’s, Nielsen said.

The event combined musical moments from the likes of Usher, Jennifer Hudson and Mariah Carey with remembrances from Brooke Shields, Magic Johnson and others. Brief heartfelt remarks by Jackson’s 11-year-old daughter at the end stole the show.

Former President Reagan’s funeral in 2004 was seen by 20.8 million viewers in the daytime hours, but his prime-time burial had an audience of 35.1 million people, Nielsen said. The opening ceremony of last year’s Beijing Olympics had 34.2 million viewers.

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Breaking down Tuesday’s audience, CNN and ABC both had 5.3 million viewers for the memorial, Nielsen said. NBC had 5.1 million, CBS had 3.9 million, Fox News Channel had 2.2 million and MSNBC had 1.4 million.

Even for those viewers who watched Tuesday’s Jackson memorial, there was still an appetite for more in prime time. ABC, CBS and NBC each had Jackson specials at 10 p.m. EDT and they had a combined audience of 20.5 million viewers. ABC won bragging rights for its Elizabeth Vargas-hosted hour focused on Jackson’s children, with a leading 8.6 million viewers.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31804997...ainment-music/

[Villavic]

I think Michael reached another record.

I guess the other thread includes all sympathies from us about MJ, so I'll ask in this thread.. who was benfited with all this broadcast? Who was not? I read the city spent a lot of money with all this, money practically lost.

[JWS]

Originally Posted by Villavic

I think Michael reached another record.

I guess the other thread includes all sympathies from us about MJ, so I'll ask in this thread.. who was benfited with all this broadcast? Who was not? I read the city spent a lot of money with all this, money practically lost.

The City of Los Angeles spent about $3 million on the MJ memorial....mostly OT for police. The broadcast ran commercial free until the conclusion so the networks didn't make much. The big winner...AEG, owner of Staples Center and LA Live, and the Jacksons. I heard they plan to release a DVD of the memorial

[strandinthewind]

And, LA was so stupid that they set up a website asking for donations to help offset the cost, but were too stupid, short sighted, whatever to put it on a decent server that could handle the traffic

I wish someone would do a revenue analysis of the amount of business generated by this and what LA derived from that in fees and taxes. Clearly, LA got some revenue from the influx of likely well over 10,000 people for a few days. If LA made $100 a person, that's a million right there to offset the $1.4 million in costs.

I also do not see why the center and or the Jackson estate were not charged at least for the security they used directly.

[strandinthewind]

Well, LA has called for an accounting for the $1.4 in costs.


Michael Jackson memorial 'ripped off' taxpayers

Los Angeles officials say the $1.4m bill for policing and traffic control at last week's memorial should be footed by either the Jackson family or concert promoter instead of the public


Michael Jackson's body rests inside a golden casket on the stage at the Staples Centre

Michael Jackson's body rests inside a golden casket at the Staples Centre. Photograph: Getty

Two Los Angeles officials have called for a review of city expenditures at last week's Michael Jackson memorial, claiming that taxpayers have been "ripped off".

Council members Dennis Zine and Jan Perry have asked Los Angeles administration to account for all spending "made in response to the public reaction to the passing of Michael Jackson". The cost of policing and traffic control for Tuesday's Staples Center service exceeded fears and has been reported at more than $1.4m (£864,000).

According to Zine, either the Jackson family or concert promoter AEG should foot the bill for these costs. "The city's contracting requirements must not become so onerous that taxpayers are left footing exorbitant bills from non-local businesses," he said.

AEG president Tim Leiweke has rejected the request, pointing out that AEG paid for the memorial itself. The event was attended by 17,000 fans who won free tickets in a lottery.

Los Angeles deployed thousands of police officers and emergency workers to manage the event and closed 10 miles of roads for the procession of Jackson's hearse. Though the mayor's office built a website to solicit donations for these costs, only $17,000 was collected before the site crashed.

Los Angeles is presently half a billion dollars in debt.

In arguing for a review of the city's expenditures, Zine cited a $48,826 (£30,154) sandwich order for some of the city's memorial support staff. The boxed lunches were ordered from a shop in Wrightwood, more than an hour outside Los Angeles. Zine also asked the city's chief legislative analyst to report on how vendors are selected for public use.

Council member Janice Hahn, however, had a different perspective on last week's memorial. She put forward a motion on Friday calling for an audit of the tourism benefits from the event. The memorial promoted Los Angeles as an important destination for Jackson fans, she said. "Los Angeles really looked good to the world."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009...memorial/print

__________________________________________-

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The financial fallout from the Michael Jackson memorial service continues, with Los Angeles city officials calling for reviews on who should pick up the tab for municipal services related to the event.

Councilman Dennis Zine said Friday he wants a report on how much the city spent on police overtime, sanitation and traffic control for the service, which was attended by some 17,000 fans at the Staples Center on Tuesday. Zine says promoter AEG Live or the Jackson family should foot the city's $1.4 million bill.

Meanwhile, Councilwoman Janice Hahn has called for an accounting on how much tourism revenue was generated by visitors coming for the service.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entert...,4790415.story

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I also do not see why the center and or the Jackson estate were not charged at least for the security they used directly.

i agree. it's not as if these big spectacles are foreign to los angeles. there are plenty of security options here that wouldn't cost the taxpayers any money.

speaking of those donations, this is funny:

http://laist.com/2009/07/13/mayor_needs_to_be.php

[David]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I wish someone would do a revenue analysis of the amount of business generated by this and what LA derived from that in fees and taxes. Clearly, LA got some revenue from the influx of likely well over 10,000 people for a few days. If LA made $100 a person, that's a million right there to offset the $1.4 million in costs.

Let's clarify just who wins & who loses.

When Los Angeles charges fees & taxes, we citizens don't get that money. But when we're living in a city that's going bankrupt & therefore raises taxes, we citizens pay out of our pockets.

A lollapalooza event in the area, regardless of generating "revenue," does few of us any measurable good. It just closes the freeways.

I also do not see why the center and or the Jackson estate were not charged at least for the security they used directly.

Politics & stupidity as usual.

[becca]

I guess they considered it 'a public service'? Obviously they should have been setting up souvenir tables of offical city/MJ paraphenelia.

Have you guys finished paying for those summer Olympics of 1984? I've heard those can take decades to pay off and those benefit the few and the elite yet all taxpayers pay for them. We have a class system where the bureaucratic class is truly ignorant, pays smaller percentages of tax, gets the most benefit and corporate welfare under the guise of job creation/luring, their kids rarely fight wars... 'twas ever thus. Let them eat cake and all that rot, we wouldn't want to be socialists where it might benefit the average person, only for the nepotisitic elite.