Unruly Media Launches First Independent Viral Video Chart

The first chart to compile data from YouTube, MySpace and Google Video, Viral Video Chart lets web users catch the hottest online videos at the very moment their popurlarity begins to skyrocket.

[ClickPress, Wed Sep 13 2006] Today sees the launch of the world's first comprehensive and independent online video chart, www.viralvideochart.com.

The brainchild of London-based company, Unruly Media, www.viralvideochart.com is an independent chart of the most popular videos on the world's top three video-sharing sites, YouTube, MySpace and Google Video.

While Google, YouTube and MySpace all publish lists of the videos most popular with their own users - rather like HMV, Virgin or Walmart might publish music charts based on their own sales data - no chart has, until now, attempted to combine data from all three sites in a credible way.

Scott Button, CEO of Unruly Media, believes that the chart will be a valuable resource to web users looking for a quick fix of entertainment: "Over three billion snack-sized videos are now being viewed every month on top video-sharing sites like YouTube, with millions more being added every month. We wanted to bring the best of this stuff together in one place in an objective and authoritative way. From now on, if you want to know the number one video that people will be talking about tomorrow, you can find it on www.viralvideochart.com."

Reminiscent of the way in which music charts analyze radio airplay, the chart is compiled by scouring millions of websites every day - 100,000 per hour or nearly 2,000 per minute - looking for new links and embedded videos on people's blogs and personal websites. The videos creating the most buzz are published every day, with weekly and monthly charts also available, plus an archive of previous number ones.

The creators of the site have been surprised by the broad range of content that the chart contains, from the usual clips of fat kids falling over through classic internet humour (Gary Brolsma, the author of 2004's Numa Numa craze just released a new video) to trailers and premieres for large media corporations (a trailer for the new series of the Simpsons claimed the number one spot this Monday). There have even been video eulogies in the chart following the death of the much-admired Steve Irwin and, of course, a spate of 9/11 footage and commentary since the anniversary on Monday.

Sarah Wood, one of the company's founders added: "The chart provides a fascinating snapshot of a single day's cultural zeitgeist. Taken together, these snapshots will form a compelling archive of cultural moments. Just imagine how powerful it would have been if we'd had an archive of the top user-submitted video clips from the day that Kennedy was assassinated or the day the Berlin Wall came down? From now on, every major event gets such a companion-piece."

Unruly Media have published some more facts and figures about the rise and rise of online video and compiled links to some of the all-time classic viral videos on the following page:

www.viralvideochart.com/resource/blurb.html.

They'd also very much like to know if you blog or write about them so they can link back to your original article.

About Viral Video Chart

Viral Video Chart is the first chart to independently monitor the popularity of videos from all of the world's most influential video-sharing sites. Currently tracking references to videos on YouTube, MySpace and Google Video, it publishes a daily chart of the 25 most talked about videos. It has been compiling data since 07 September 2006.

About Unruly Media

Unruly Media is a three-person technology-driven media company, based in London, UK. Founded in January 2006, the founders describe themselves as fun, smart and not-at-all caffeine-addicted. They also want to hire another Java developer, so feel free to spread the word.

Press Enquiries

Please address all enquiries to:

Scott Button
scott.button@gmail.com
+44 (0)7974 328052
Unruly Media, Creation Factory, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL, United Kingdom

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