A TV crew from the YouTube channel B1M has visited Rødbyhavn to make a documentary that goes all the way around the Fehmarn project. And this has given the enormous construction project an unexpected showcase.
B1M has 2.68 million subscribers, and some of their videos have up to 19 million views so far.
2.7 million views in five days
The video about the Fehmarn connection is called “The Insane Scale of Europe’s New Mega-Tunnel” and, after five days, has already been viewed 2.7 million times.
– We are again confirming that the Fehmarn Belt project is not just a local or national but an international project experiencing massive interest. An international interest that we at Business Lolland-Falster can nod in recognition of, as we are experiencing a large increase in the number of inquiries from foreign companies that are interested in the area, says Mikkel Wesselhof, director of Business Lolland-Falster.
Professional production
In the documentary, you get all the way around the project, from why the tunnel is built to how it is constructed. In addition, there is the whole story behind it and the concerns in relation to nature. Therefore, the TV team has also been to both Sweden and Germany.
It is all visually put together in a professional production with on-site recordings, drone videos, computer animations, graphics and historical clips.
Femern A/S is also enthusiastic about the documentary, to which the client has contributed by making his knowledge and computer animations available to the TV team.
– It is impressive that a relatively small YouTube channel, measured in terms of budget, has made a program that is fully on par with productions from TV stations such as the BBC, National Geographic or Discovery, says Jens Villemoes, press manager at Femern A/S, who himself showed host Fred Mills and the TV crew around the construction site.
An asset for recruitment
According to the press manager, the YouTube video gives the entire Fehmarn project some PR, which can be used when recruiting labour.
– It is a good compressed narrative of what the project is about, and when we have to go out and find labour, not only at Femern A/S, where we need some skilled engineers but also at FLC, it is a huge boost. Many of the people who are probably interested in this type of video are also the target group we would like to reach in relation to recruitment. There, the video is a huge asset, says Jens Villemoes.
Appeals to young people
In addition, the YouTube documentary can also attract apprentices.
– After all, there are young people who might watch more YouTube than flow TV, and if they see a video like this, they might think it would be cool to be a part of it. There it cannot be denied that we can reach a target group that we otherwise would not have reached if it were a traditional program on a large TV station, says Jens Villemoes.
He also believes that the whole narrative form appeals to a younger audience.
– The whole form of communication is good. It is not heavy and technical. Fred Mills has a very modern storytelling style with his editing and fresh little remarks, says Jens Villemoes.
Well-regarded YouTube channel
The team behind B1M wants to share their fascination with large construction projects to make more people want to work in the construction industry.
The Times has previously named B1M as one of the top 20 YouTube channels for learning.
Watch the full documentary here:
