In response to long, dark winters in northern Finland, a unique form of entertainment has captured the attention of hundreds of thousands of viewers nationwide. Yle, Finland’s national public broadcaster, is airing the sixth edition of Pentulive, a livestream series following the daily lives of a litter of newborn puppies.
The current season features Hilkka, a lagotto Romagnolo dog, who recently gave birth to six puppies—four females and two males. Since the livestream began one week ago, the online feed has attracted 6.6 million visits, an impressive figure considering Finland’s population of 5.6 million. Viewers can watch Hilkka and her puppies around the clock through multiple cameras installed inside the whelping box at a breeder’s home, with the footage remotely directed from Helsinki.
The program documents the puppies from birth through their early development until they leave for new homes, spanning eight weeks of continuous streaming. Previous seasons have garnered strong viewership; in 2025, a season featuring an English springer spaniel named Muru and her litter recorded about one million viewers—comparable to the audience for Yle’s daily evening news.
Pentulive originated in 2021 as an initiative to provide comfort and a sense of connection during trying times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine. Pirjo Koskinen, a Yle science journalist who conceived the idea, emphasizes the positive impact on viewers. According to Koskinen, the program helps alleviate loneliness, reduce stress, and even ease physical or mental pain. Viewers have reportedly used the livestream in diverse settings, including classrooms during exam preparation and as a bonding tool for families with elderly members experiencing dementia.
Experts highlight the cultural significance and psychological appeal of the show. Miiaaaria Kujala, an adjunct professor of comparative cognitive neuroscience at the University of Helsinki, notes that the livestream resonates with a primal human response, offering something authentic and vulnerable in contrast to the fast pace of modern life. Pentulive draws upon the Scandinavian tradition of “slow TV,” providing long, peaceful viewing with occasional moments of lively activity that engage emotional responses.
Beyond the video feed, Pentulive incorporates interactive elements such as a live chat, a weekly podcast, and a game where participants can predict when puppies will reach developmental milestones. Sonja Mutanen, a doctoral researcher at the University of Eastern Finland focusing on media and animals, points out that the program has fostered a community, with viewers recognizing each other from past seasons and using the chat to reconnect.
The popularity of Pentulive reflects changing attitudes toward dogs in Finland, where they are increasingly regarded as family members rather than simply working animals. The show continues to provide a source of warmth and calm during Finland’s long autumn and winter months, reinforcing the role of animals and humane media in public life.