Carnegie Hall launches on-demend video streaming service

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New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall is getting into the streaming business.

The venue has launched Carnegie Hall+, a $7.99 a month offering that includes “curated concerts, operas, dance and more.”

The service is initially available via an Apple TV app plus on Verizon Fios and Spectrum. Select providers offer a 7-day free trial and signups are open as of Aug. 15, 2022.

Created in partnership with Unitel, a classical music audio-visual producer and distributor, the service offers concert, opera and dance performances from around the world, artist portraits and music documentaries.

It does not appear that all Carnegie Hall events will be available, so it’s not a replacement for attending live events. Instead, it appears to be a way for arts lovers to access expanded content, including selections that provide background and context about other works, performances and artists.

The service is also available in select overseas countries.

Many performance venues had to pivot to streaming options during the COVID-19 pandemic when they were forced to close their doors to live audiences. This included live and recorded streams, often available for a flat rate per household and good for a set period of time.

Streaming live theatre has several challenges, including licensing rights, and some playwrights, artists and venues are not as open to recorded or live streaming options because they feel it takes away from the experience of live theatre, though it appears that way of thinking shifted at least a bit during the pandemic.