OlBlueEyes said: "There wouldn’t be a need for bootlegs if Broadway would stop living in the last century. In general, people no longer have to be at the right place at the right time to see films, television shows and live concerts. Not long after first release, films and TV shows can be streamed right to your home. And there is fantastic money in it, as you know if you follow Netflix.
An increasing number of live concerts are being recorded and made available for later viewing. Even subscription streaming radio, especially SiriusXM, broadcasts live concerts and makes them available to listen to later “on-demand.”
Half of the population is over 1000 miles away from Manhattan. Someone who wants to see a live show has to pay big bucks just to fly to NewYork and get a room in a hotel (25 percent sales tax, thank you). Then they can buy a good seat for $175 or so.
Is it a surprise that the Tony awards are on the brink of being dropped by the major networks? No one has seen the shows. After the first six or nine months, when the first rush of attendance has passed, allow the rest of the country to share. Maybe pay-per-view with a good stiff cost, but not $175.
If enough money is realized from this, ticket prices in New York might be reduced allowing more people to attend. And to hopefully eliminate eight shows a week. This burden sends the best actors and actresses out on concert tours instead of into another Broadway show."
CBS has a multi year legal agreement with the Tony Awards so that argument is baseless. Many shows are filmed for later realease or television (Memphis, She Loves Me, etc) but theatre is meant to be witnessed live which is why there are tours. You don’t have to fly to New York to see a Broadway show. You can see them all across the country and throughout the world. Living in a El Passo is no excuse.