BroadwayHD

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

http://playbill.com/news/article/broadway-producers-launch-on-demand-streaming-of-stage-shows-368839

[madbrian]

The initial content is very BBC/Shakespeare heavy.  

[bdn223]

So I guess we are to assume Gentleman's Guide is to be filmed, as Steward F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, who have been in the producing consortiums, who are spearheading this are also producers on Gentleman's Guide?

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

I don't see this working. I feel as though many producers will boycott it. They can say "this isn't to detract from Broadway audiences", but it probably will. 

[brdway411]

If I want to see anything that bad, I will go to the NYPL for the performing arts and watch for free. 

[tazber]

This would be a fantastic idea assuming they can get decent content.

 

Streaming shows that already have physical media available isn't going to entice that many people.

 

 

[Scarywarhol]

They are really not ready for a launch with this content. Some great plays from BBC, but the name of the venture suggests, you know, Broadway. 

Best of luck to them if they can step that up, it's a great idea. 

[perfectlymarvelous]

They're also charging $15 a month, which is steep for an an online streaming service, especially one that doesn't have a very wide selection yet. I think this could be a good idea if they get some better content, but right now I would imagine most of this can be attained elsewhere. 

[adamgreer]

Agree with what everyone has said already. They really need to beef up their content before I'd even consider it. Jekyll and Hyde? Really?

[haterobics]

$5 more than Netflix per month with only 100 titles?! And only a handful from Broadway...

[Liza's Headband]

^ And that's assuming you are one of the poor saps who hadn't already signed up with Netflix before the price hikes. Some of us are still only paying $7.99 per month for Netflix... 

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Here's hoping they strike a deal with PBS to get more content from "Great Performances" or "Live From The Lincoln Center." Heck, call MTV and get "Legally Blonde." Or, go to BBC and get all of the seasons from those Andrew Lloyd Webber casting shows - I would love to binge on "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria"!

[Jordan Catalano]

People online are acting like this is the best thing ever to happen. The public library has all these old bbc shows and every other show listed on there for free. Without an announcement that they'll be producing new content of current shows to go along with the three broadway shows that they have, they really have no business calling themselves "BROADWAYHD". At the moment, this is a supreme waste of money. 

[HorseTears]

Did the founder's elderly British uncle leave him all of his old BBC VHS tapes?  

[ChairinMain]

It's useful for shakespeare fans who do not already have the complete BBC series...most of these are not available in the states except in a very expensive box set. SO for tht, it's great. But, man, they need better content if they want me to sign up. 

[haterobics]

Liza's Headband said: "^ And that's assuming you are one of the poor saps who hadn't already signed up with Netflix before the price hikes. Some of us are still only paying $7.99 per month for Netflix... "

 

Ahh, I never even realized everyone didn't get their monthly price hiked... I rarely use it, so I just have a friend's account when necessary.

[PalJoey]

 

I'm very excited about seeing Lynne Thigpen (may she rest in peace) in Tintypes. I loved that production.

[haterobics]

Curious how many of those BBC titles you could already get through Netflix's DVD program... assuming they haven't been streamed before.

[Kad]

Until more Broadway (or American in general) productions are filmed, I can't say I have much interest in this venture so early on. I already own or have ready access to most professionally-filmed Broadway productions I'm interested in.

[Wildcard]

It would be great (though unlikely) if they can add the National Theater titles to their library

[Call_me_jorge]

Brave Sir Robin2 said: "Here's hoping they strike a deal with PBS to get more content from "Great Performances" or "Live From The Lincoln Center." Heck, call MTV and get "Legally Blonde." Or, go to BBC and get all of the seasons from those Andrew Lloyd Webber casting shows - I would love to binge on "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria"!"

The casting shows were on ITV so I don't think calling bbc would work.

[EricMontreal22]

ChairinMain said: "It's useful for shakespeare fans who do not already have the complete BBC series...most of these are not available in the states except in a very expensive box set. SO for tht, it's great. But, man, they need better content if they want me to sign up. 

 

"

Anyone with access to a university library account in N America can already stream those BBC adaptations (and most of them are deathly to sit through.) 

 

[nasty_khakis]

Legally Blonde and the Live! From Lincoln Center shows will never be available commercially. It was worked out in the actors' contracts to keep from having to pay royalties to them and the musicians. 

[Charley Kringas Inc]

This is potentially really cool given that Broadway is so tiny and restricted, but unless they're releasing things that are either actually currently playing on Broadway or have recently closed (or are about to close) this is just a pricier version of the stuffy video collection that every library on the planet probably has six of. 

[MichelleCraig]

Maybe this should be its own thread...or maybe it was at one time...but which Broadway or London productions that have been released on home video have you liked? BILLY ELLIOT LIVE was released on DVD and Blu-ray last week. Anyone buy it?

What are your favorites? Do you buy them when they're released or just watch them on PBS, NetFlix, etc.?

Let's include concert productions of shows, too...like SWEENEY TODD with Patti LuPone and the San Francisco Symphony...or COMPANY with Neil Patrick Harris and the New York Philharmonic.