Could Hamilton be streamed live on TV?

[MoDance0934]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 7:40pm

Because it's such a popular musical, and many people are dying to see it (me being one of those many people), is there a possibility that a major network, like NBC or CBS could live broadcast it for home viewers?

[pupscotch]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 7:44pm

They'd probably have to do a separate performance for it, and the network wouldn't make that much ad money, aside from intermission, so I'd guess it wouldn't happen any time soon.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 7:51pm

Well, it will be playing for years...so I don't doubt you'll have a chance to see it live.  

 

The question isn't about revenue for the station, but WHY would the producers want to give their show away for free???  

 

 

[willep]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 7:55pm

Yeah...that's not going to happen.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 7:56pm

To answer the question in the thread title directly: No.

[KCW]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 7:57pm

It's physicly but not feasibly possible.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 7:58pm

Lin has already said that he wants the show filmed with the original cast for an eventual release. 

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 8:02pm

Like Dramamama said, I don't think the producers are ready to give it away for free, but what about a pay TV option? Pay per view or HBO, perhaps, like some concerts have done. I know live productions can be a bit sticky with union rules, but it's not totally unheard of.

I'd love to see the show on TV as much as the next person, but I truly don't see it happening. I know LMM has said many times he wants the show filmed, but I doubt it would be filmed just to be aired by on NBC air Fox.

[non-stop26]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 8:14pm

IF they do it, it would be VERY far down along the run. So as much as I would like to see that happen, it wouldn't.

[littlemouse921]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 8:16pm

Maybe they'll go the way of Rent and film the final performance (if it does close)

[MoDance0934]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 8:17pm

oncemorewithfeeling2 said: "Like Dramamama said, I don't think the producers are ready to give it away for free, but what about a pay TV option? Pay per view or HBO, perhaps, like some concerts have done. I know live productions can be a bit sticky with union rules, but it's not totally unheard of.

I'd love to see the show on TV as much as the next person, but I truly don't see it happening. I know LMM has said many times he wants the show filmed, but I doubt it would be filmed just to be aired by on NBC air Fox.

That's what my friends and I were talking about today. If they were to do film it, it would probably have to be paid for on HBO. But what if they did it like one of NBC's live broadcasts? 

 

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 8:26pm

Yeah, they'd just have to set up cameras and record it, and then edit it together nicely. They easily COULD.

[sarahb22]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 10:02pm

Someone once suggested they could do a live telecast and show it in a movie theater, as sometimes happens with operas. People would pay for tickets to see it (maybe even a premium price, like $50 per head), and money could be made.

The trick is broadcasting it without the cameras getting in the way of a paying audience watching the show in the theater. Of course you could do it without an audience in the theater, but I don't like watching those sorts of shows because there's nobody for the actors to play to.  It tends to make their performance colder.

If they did something like that, and broadcast it in major cities, I'm sure it would sell out.  BUT, I'm sure the rights etc, would be hard to figure out, and the logistics would be a nightmare, so it probably won't happen.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 10:06pm

If the producers wanted to do it, the rights would be easy, they just have to work out the details.  

I agree: they "could", but I don't think they will.  The only show I remember a similar circumstance was Legally Blond on MTV.  It didn't do the show any favors.

 

 

[MoDance0934]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 10:12pm

sarahb22 said: "Someone once suggested they could do a live telecast and show it in a movie theater, as sometimes happens with operas. People would pay for tickets to see it (maybe even a premium price, like $50 per head), and money could be made."

 

 

I think every Hamilton fan and their mother would be first in line. But it would be a good opportunity for those who may not get the chance to see it live. I've already accepted the fact that tickets are unattainable and I envy anyone who has seen it. 

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 10:25pm

But they aren't unattainable.   I've seen it twice, and hold tix for a third time in July.  I didn't do anything outrageous nor did I spend unspeakable amounts of money.

 

It takes patience and planing.  (and the knowledge of when the next set goes on sale)

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 10:33pm

dramamama611 said: "But they aren't unattainable.   I've seen it twice, and hold tix for a third time in July.  I didn't do anything outrageous nor did I spend unspeakable amounts of money.

 

It takes patience and planing.  (and the knowledge of when the next set goes on sale)

 

"

$97-177 is a pretty unspeakable amount of money for a lot of people, especially people around the country who need to GET to New York. I think the idea of a broadcast would fulfill that crowd and influence many others to buy tickets to experience the show live. A recording and the live thing are two separate experiences entirely, and I don't think a live televised event would make ticket sales suffer at all.

[And Peggy]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 10:42pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Lin has already said that he wants the show filmed with the original cast for an eventual release. 

I could see this following the Into The Woods route, reassembling the original cast later in the run to record a future PBS broadcast and eventual home video release (be it DVD or streaming or whatever else is invented by then.) It would give a nod to the past while still propelling the show forward for a new generation of obsessive fans. 

"

 

[mcsquared]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 11:10pm

Well they've filmed or are filming a behind the scenes of Hamilton for pbs which if it's like the one done from in the heights will at least have a few parts of show in there, enough to want more.

[Margo319]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 11:42pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Lin has already said that he wants the show filmed with the original cast for an eventual release.

 

Considering three people (or more?) have already left the OBC, that won't be happening unless they already did it.

 

 

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 11:45pm

Margo319 said: "Considering three people (or more?) have already left the OBC, that won't be happening unless they already did it."

 

Err, none of them died or anything...

[Margo319]

Posted: 4/18/16 at 11:55pm

They've moved on to other projects and other work in other cities.  Also, other people have contracts and have taken over their parts.  So yeah.....I doubt it will work.  

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 4/19/16 at 12:08am

There are several notable occasions of OBC members reassembling for a recording after they had left the show and been replaced.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/19/16 at 5:47am

Anyone with a contract wouldn't have in their agreement any sort of filming rights. They could bring back anyone to play the roles for filming that they wanted to. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/19/16 at 8:36am

Margo319 said: "They've moved on to other projects and other work in other cities.  Also, other people have contracts and have taken over their parts.  So yeah.....I doubt it will work."

Yeah, that would clearly trump them wanting to be in the performance of Hamilton that they created when it gets captured for history.