VIDEO: Do You Remember YouTube’s First Digital Upfront?

Google will present the YouTube Brandcast in New York City on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. It’s an invite only affair at the Beacon Theater where hundreds of advertisers and brand representatives are going to watch what everyone expects will be the biggest showcase of digital media properties and platforms of all the showcases of digital media properties and platforms at the first ever Digital Content NewFronts.

Select recipients of funding from YouTube’s $100 million Original Channels initiative will undoubtedly be showcased by those channels’ stars and tentpole events will be teased by what I’m anticipating will be some very well known celebrities.

I’m basing the above expectations on the popular conception of what an upfront entails, and because that’s kinda what happened at the first YouTube Upfront, except there was a fashion show runway, live models walking on that fashion show runway, and a build-your-own-s’mores station there, too.

This may be the inaugural Digital Content NewFronts, but it’s actually YouTube’s second large-scale upfronts event. The first took place way back on February 13, 2008. It was called YouTube Videocracy, was held at Terminal 5 (the three-story club and concert space in Manhattan where acts like Coldplay and perform), and featured Anderson Cooper, Esmee Denters

, Lisa Nova, Soulja Boy, the Pachelbel’s Canon guitar dude (remember him?!), the Will it Blend? guy, and more. The YouTube and traditional media celebs provided the (at that time) not-so-digitally-savvy audience with a “deep-dive, Cliffs Notes, YouTube 101 education” and overview of upcoming programming (some of which came to fruition, others of which didn’t).

It was also a helluva party. If you weren’t there and want to see what it was like, or if you were there and want a reminder of what it was like, check out the video below (and keep in mind it was made over four years ago).

We’ll let you know how the YouTube Brandcast of 2012 compares. Stay stuned.

Check out the Tubefilter Calendar for a complete schedule of the Digital Content NewFronts, and be sure to consult Tubefilter’s Complete Guide to DCNF 2012 for all the latest news.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

• International Academy of Web Television Leadership Luncheon
• MiTu Network NewFront & Reception
• YouTube Brandcast
• MediaLink NewFronts Closing Night Party

Photo of Anderson Cooper at YouTube Videocracy by new media super agent George Ruiz.