BroadwayHD
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Digital streaming, Entertainment |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Stewart F. Lane, Bonnie Comley |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | On-demand streaming of live and recorded theatrical performances |
BroadwayHD is a privately held digital streaming enterprise based in New York City. It focuses on providing on-demand access to both live and recorded theatrical performances. The service employs a distinctive business approach by delivering Broadway and West End productions to audiences worldwide, thereby extending its reach beyond conventional theater patrons.
History
Established by Tony Award-winning producers Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, BroadwayHD's mission is to make Broadway accessible to a broader audience by capturing live performances and streaming them online. The founders negotiated contracts with all 17 unions, guilds, and associations associated with Broadway productions to guarantee fair remuneration for all creative contributors, creating a strong competitive edge in rights management. BroadwayHD collaborates with leading theater organizations such as Roundabout Theatre Company, The Public Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, The Geffen, and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
The platform was introduced in the fall of 2015, launching with an initial library of 100 titles from both Broadway and London's West End. This strategy targets theater aficionados globally and leverages specialized content to capture a share of the digital entertainment market while fostering the artistic community.
She Loves Me livestream
In June 2016, BroadwayHD achieved a Guinness World Record by live streaming the Roundabout Theater Company's production of She Loves Me from Studio 54, marking the first-ever live broadcast of a Broadway show. This accomplishment significantly boosted BroadwayHD’s prominence in the realm of digital theater streaming.
Tony Awards Backstage Broadcast
BroadwayHD expanded its scope in 2016 by producing the inaugural behind-the-scenes livestream during the CBS broadcast of the Tony Awards, transmitted live from the Beacon Theatre. This initiative demonstrated the company's innovative leadership in event streaming services.
Productions
In addition to She Loves Me, BroadwayHD has streamed productions such as The Geffen Playhouse’s Long Day's Journey into Night featuring Jane Kaczmarek and Alfred Molina, Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn starring Bryce Pinkham and Corbin Bleu, and Ernest Shackleton Loves Me.
The company’s production portfolio also includes Broadway titles like Present Laughter with Kevin Kline, Paula Vogel’s Tony-winning play Indecent, John Patrick Shanley’s The Portuguese Kid starring Jason Alexander, and Drew Droege’s Bold Colors, Bright Patterns, directed by Michael Urie. These offerings illustrate BroadwayHD’s dedication to broadening its content range and enhancing its global presence in theatrical streaming.
Digital on-demand library
By April 2018, BroadwayHD’s digital catalog had expanded to more than 200 titles, featuring acclaimed works such as Oklahoma! with Hugh Jackman and Ian McKellen in King Lear. Beyond theatrical plays, the platform includes varied programming like coverage of the American Theatre Wing's Centennial Gala, concerts by renowned artists including Sutton Foster and Andrew Rannells, as well as theater documentaries. This diverse content mix strengthens its competitive position within the performing arts streaming sector.