Wacken Waits On Webcast Numbers

Although Wacken Open Air chief Thomas Jensen knew 70,000 people would turn up to his German festival, he’s still waiting to hear how many paid to view it online.

This year’s heavy rock bash, the first since it won "best festival" at the German Live Entertainment Awards, created a broadcasting first for the fest by being transmitted live on the internet.

At press time CTS, which provided the virtual tickets for the live streaming and handled the payment side of things, hadn’t announced how many people paid to watch the show.

Tickets for the virtual version cost euro 14.90 for a three-day pass, euro 4.90 for July 31 only, euro 6.90 for August 1 and euro 7.90 for August 2.

Tempodome.com, a specialist in interactive live streaming, was responsible for the transmission of the open-air event, which Wacken broadcast through its Rockalarm.com portal.

, a specialist in interactive live streaming, was responsible for the transmission of the open-air event, which Wacken broadcast through its portal.

"It was a technical success but I’m waiting to hear how it did financially," Jensen told Pollstar. "The transmission did cut out a couple of times but it was for no longer than 15 seconds."

But those who watched the virtual event had the consolation of not getting as wet as those at the real one, which endured heavy showers on the Friday and Sunday evenings.

"It didn’t really make any difference to anyone or anything," Jensen said of a crowd that’s legendary for not letting the weather get in the way of its big rock weekend.

The acts playing loud music at Wacken and maybe on computer systems around the globe July 31 to August 2 included Iron Maiden, As I Lay Dying, Children Of Bodom, Hatebreed and Opeth.