This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-34138489
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Star Wars toys on show in YouTube unboxing marathon | Star Wars toys on show in YouTube unboxing marathon |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Disney is hosting an 18-hour marathon Star Wars toy unboxing. | Disney is hosting an 18-hour marathon Star Wars toy unboxing. |
| Toys tied in to the forthcoming release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the latest instalment of the science-fiction juggernaut, have been unwrapped and demonstrated on YouTube. | Toys tied in to the forthcoming release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the latest instalment of the science-fiction juggernaut, have been unwrapped and demonstrated on YouTube. |
| The entertainment giant joins a growing list of companies using unboxings to demonstrate their wares. | The entertainment giant joins a growing list of companies using unboxings to demonstrate their wares. |
| Unboxing videos have grown rapidly in popularity, especially for toys. | Unboxing videos have grown rapidly in popularity, especially for toys. |
| One of the most popular YouTube channels is FunToyzCollector, which shows a pair of elegantly manicured hands demonstrating playthings. The toys are not only taken out of the box, but shown from a variety of angles, and played with. | One of the most popular YouTube channels is FunToyzCollector, which shows a pair of elegantly manicured hands demonstrating playthings. The toys are not only taken out of the box, but shown from a variety of angles, and played with. |
| It has had more than 7.7 billion views since launching, and this week alone had more than 75 million views. | It has had more than 7.7 billion views since launching, and this week alone had more than 75 million views. |
| One video that examines a Playdoh product in great depth has had more than 337 million views. | One video that examines a Playdoh product in great depth has had more than 337 million views. |
| On Thursday Disney's Star Wars unboxing kicked off in Sydney, followed by YouTube broadcasts from around the globe, prior to the release of the toys in shops at midnight. | On Thursday Disney's Star Wars unboxing kicked off in Sydney, followed by YouTube broadcasts from around the globe, prior to the release of the toys in shops at midnight. |
| Why on earth would you want to sit and watch people opening boxes of toys for 18 hours? | Why on earth would you want to sit and watch people opening boxes of toys for 18 hours? |
| Unboxing videos are undeniably popular - out of the top 25 most viewed YouTube channels five are dedicated to the activity. | |
| Along with DisneyCollectorBR, there's It'sBabyBigMouth, which focuses on unwrapping Kinder eggs and building the toys, BluCollection, HobbyKidsTV and another toy-fixated channel - DisneyCarToys. | Along with DisneyCollectorBR, there's It'sBabyBigMouth, which focuses on unwrapping Kinder eggs and building the toys, BluCollection, HobbyKidsTV and another toy-fixated channel - DisneyCarToys. |
| Social media expert Tom Cheesewright says the attraction is partly to do with the vicarious thrill of seeing someone open a brand new product. | Social media expert Tom Cheesewright says the attraction is partly to do with the vicarious thrill of seeing someone open a brand new product. |
| "There's the first-person hands in front of you - it seems you're there. You're seeing it unwrapped first," he says. | "There's the first-person hands in front of you - it seems you're there. You're seeing it unwrapped first," he says. |
| Google says that the sense of anticipation can be a key factor. | Google says that the sense of anticipation can be a key factor. |
| Who watches this stuff? | Who watches this stuff? |
| According to Google Consumer Surveys data, 62% of people who watch unboxing videos are looking into a certain product. | According to Google Consumer Surveys data, 62% of people who watch unboxing videos are looking into a certain product. |
| Clothing, lipstick, food, and even bras also get the unboxing treatment. | Clothing, lipstick, food, and even bras also get the unboxing treatment. |
| Lingerie firm Adore Me, which aims to become a competitor to Victoria's Secret, did an unboxing TV ad based on YouTube "to appeal to millennials", Business Insider reported. | Lingerie firm Adore Me, which aims to become a competitor to Victoria's Secret, did an unboxing TV ad based on YouTube "to appeal to millennials", Business Insider reported. |
| Toy unboxing videos let children look at an online toy catalogue - and let marketers get their teeth into a younger age group. | Toy unboxing videos let children look at an online toy catalogue - and let marketers get their teeth into a younger age group. |
| According to Google, 34% of the views for unboxing videos related to food, electronics, toys and beauty and fashion happen from October to December - in the run-up to Christmas. | According to Google, 34% of the views for unboxing videos related to food, electronics, toys and beauty and fashion happen from October to December - in the run-up to Christmas. |
| It would take more than seven years to watch all the videos on YouTube with "unboxing" in the title that were uploaded in 2014, Google says. | It would take more than seven years to watch all the videos on YouTube with "unboxing" in the title that were uploaded in 2014, Google says. |
| Why are big companies like Disney getting involved? | Why are big companies like Disney getting involved? |
| Unboxing videos can be real moneyspinners. Last year, Disney paid almost $1bn (£660m) for YouTube channel Maker Studios. Later in the year, Maker Studios signed five toy review channels. | Unboxing videos can be real moneyspinners. Last year, Disney paid almost $1bn (£660m) for YouTube channel Maker Studios. Later in the year, Maker Studios signed five toy review channels. |
| Unboxing videos have mushroomed into a global phenomenon, with unboxing sites getting millions of dollars in ad revenue - but that evolution wasn't planned or predictable. | Unboxing videos have mushroomed into a global phenomenon, with unboxing sites getting millions of dollars in ad revenue - but that evolution wasn't planned or predictable. |
| "They naturally snowballed," Mr Cheesewright says - and that snowball shows no signs of slowing down. | "They naturally snowballed," Mr Cheesewright says - and that snowball shows no signs of slowing down. |