Finnish puppy livestream attracts 6.6 million visits in six days
A Finnish broadcaster’s 24-hour livestream of Hilkka, a Lagotto Romagnolo caring for her six newborn puppies, has attracted millions of visits. The programme, Pentulive, is being described as “Big Brother for dogs” and offers viewers a gentle alternative to fast-paced reality television.
The current series will follow Hilkka and her four female and two male puppies for eight weeks, with three cameras set up in a breeder’s home and a team in Helsinki controlling the feed remotely. The website recorded 6.6 million visits in six days; last year, a series featuring 11 puppies drew about one million viewers. Its creator says viewers use the stream to ease loneliness and stress, while a University of Helsinki researcher links its appeal to calm, unscripted footage and people’s instinct to care for vulnerable animals.
- Hilkka’s six puppies are being streamed around the clock in Finland.
- The programme’s website received 6.6 million visits in six days.
- Its appeal may lie in calm footage and viewers’ desire to care.
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Pentulive is a Finnish television project that broadcasts live footage of dogs around the clock. It follows a mother dog and her puppies in a breeder’s home, with cameras operated remotely by a team in Helsinki.
The format has been compared with reality television because viewers can watch events unfold over time, but the footage is unscripted and focused on everyday animal care. The project’s creators and a University of Helsinki researcher have suggested that its calm pace and the puppies’ vulnerability help explain why people watch.
The stream matters as an example of how broadcasters are using online video to reach audiences beyond traditional programmes. Its popularity has also prompted discussion about how viewers use gentle, animal-focused footage for comfort or company.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “We’re all suckers for a bit of puppy love! Livestream of new mum Hilkka the Lagotto Romagnolo and her cute brood brings joy to millions who can tune in 24/7”.