Two new research reports out of the UK indicate that the digital capture and screening of live performances is failing to attract the wider and more diverse audiences anticipated. It had originally been hoped that digitally capturing live arts performances and screening them online or in cinemas/community locations would increase audience attendance by those who would not typically attend similar live performances in person. However two distinct reports, one conducted for the Arts Council England (ACE) and the other by digital distribution service Cinegi, show that “screened versions of live performances are … consumed by those that would attend the arts anyway.” The reports note that screening audiences were significantly lower than expected while technical factors inhibited online viewing numbers. Both reports are available online:
Live-to-Digital in the Arts: https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/live-digital-screenings-arent-diversifying-audiences-research-finds
Cinegi Arts & Film Action Research Report: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/download-file/cinegi_NestaAA_report%20FINAL.pdf