What Broadway Video does

Broadway Video is an independent entertainment studio founded by Lorne Michaels in 1979 that produces and distributes original comedy content across television, film, audio, and international formats. The company's core television portfolio is anchored by Saturday Night Live (on air since 1975), The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Late Night with Seth Meyers, produced for NBC, with additional series distributed across Peacock, Hulu, Comedy Central, HBO, TruTV, and MTV. Its film catalog includes Mean Girls (2004 and 2024 musical adaptation), Wayne's World, MacGruber, Tommy Boy, Baby Mama, and Masterminds. Broadway Video also operates Broadway Video Audio, producing premium scripted comedy podcasts for Audible (including the Heads Will Roll franchise with Kate McKinnon); M\u00e1s Mejor, a Latino-voice comedy studio; and a branded entertainment division that creates commercials and brand integrations leveraging SNL talent.

The business model is diversified across multiple revenue streams: television production and licensing fees from broadcast/streaming networks, international format licensing royalties (SNL formats licensed to China, Poland, Italy, France, Korea, and the UK), film production and distribution (theatrical and streaming), branded content production for agencies and advertisers, subscription audio content via Audible, and consumer licensing and merchandising of characters and names across books, apparel, homeware, and novelty items. GTM motion is primarily enterprise/B2B — content is commissioned and licensed by major network and platform partners — supplemented by direct-to-consumer distribution via Audible and consumer merchandise. The company has no disclosed core technology platform; its competitive position is built on IP (SNL brand, 50+ years), creator/talent relationships (Lorne Michaels, Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, Kate McKinnon, and the broader SNL alumni network), and long-tenure distribution relationships with NBCUniversal/Peacock, Sky, and Audible.

Name

Broadway Video

Legal name

Broadway Video

Website

https://broadwayvideo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Broadway Video is an independent comedy studio founded by Lorne Michaels in 1979, producing and licensing original comedic content for television, film, audio, and international platforms. It serves broadcast and streaming networks (NBC/Peacock, Sky, Audible, Comedy Central, HBO) with flagship franchise Saturday Night Live and a broad content library.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television and Film Production

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Scripted TV Series Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Live-Action TV Movies, Miniseries & Specials Production (MPADABAD)

Keywords

• Television production
• Comedy content
• Film production
• Content licensing
• Audio programming

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Television Production and Licensing: Production of original television comedy series for broadcast and streaming networks. Revenue comes from production deals, licensing fees, and advertising revenue share from networks.
2. Film Production and Distribution: Production and distribution of comedy films through theatrical releases and streaming platforms. Revenue generated from box office, distribution deals, and licensing.
3. International Format Licensing: Licensing the SNL format to international markets including China, Poland, Italy, France, and Korea. Broadway Video manages domestic and international licensing and distribution.
4. Branded Entertainment: Creation of branded content and commercials for agencies and brands, leveraging SNL talent and production capabilities. Includes sponsor integrations and brand campaigns.
5. Licensing and Merchandising: Licensing of names and characters from premier programming for product categories including books, apparel, costume, homeware, games, and novelty items.
6. Audio Content: Creation and distribution of premium scripted audio comedy programming through Audible including original podcasts starring SNL talent.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Broadway Video is an independent entertainment studio that develops, produces, and distributes original comedic content across television, film, audio, and branded entertainment. Its portfolio includes flagship television series such as Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, 30 Rock, and Documentary Now!, feature films such as Mean Girls and Wayne's World, scripted audio programming on Audible, international format licensing of SNL, and branded entertainment campaigns leveraging SNL talent.

Product overview

Broadway Video is a global entertainment and media company founded in 1979 by Lorne Michaels that produces and distributes original comedic content across multiple platforms. The company operates a diversified portfolio of television properties (including flagship Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and original series like Bupkis, Documentary Now!, Schmigadoon!, and Miracle Workers), film productions (spanning Mean Girls, Wayne's World, MacGruber, and others), and audio programming (through Audible Originals including Heads Will Roll). Broadway Video Enterprises manages licensing, distribution, branded entertainment, and international format adaptations of the SNL brand across China, Poland, Italy, France, Korea, and UK. The company also operates Más Mejor, a premium comedy studio focused on Latino voices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Broadway Video Enterprises: Creates innovative new programming for all media platforms and manages licensing and distribution of the company's extensive library.
• Más Mejor
• Broadway Video Audio

Products and services

• Saturday Night Live NBC's Emmy Award-winning late-night sketch comedy flagship show created by Lorne Michaels and produced by Broadway Video.
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon NBC late-night talk show franchise featuring Jimmy Fallon with interviews, impersonations, and musical performances by The Roots.
• Late Night with Seth Meyers

Quantifiable outcome

• 5.4 million viewers for most-watched SNL episode in over a year (Dec 2025)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• AudiblecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026Audible and Broadway Video Enterprises partnership producing multiple Originals including the Heads Will Roll sequel 'Heads Will Roll: Heir Apparent' premiering June 25. The partnership has produced multiple Originals with Kate McKinnon's 'Heads Will Roll' becoming an overnight hit in 2019.
• PeacockcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 March 2026NBCUniversal's Peacock acquired U.S. streaming rights to SNL UK. Episodes available the day after UK broadcast. Deal gives Peacock users access to both SNL versions when new episodes run simultaneously.
• SkyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026Sky is co-producer of SNL UK alongside Broadway Video and Universal Television Alternative Studio. Sky One broadcasts the show with streaming on Now. The UK version is the first-ever British incarnation of the SNL format.
• ChryslerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBroadway Video produced branded content for Chrysler's Jeep Cherokee, featuring SNL cast member Cecily Strong. Demonstrates brand integration capabilities with SNL talent and production.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bad Robot: J.J. Abrams' independent TV/film production company producing premium scripted content (Lost, Westworld, Star Trek) for major networks and streamers. Directly comparable as a founder-led, prestige-leaning independent studio that licenses IP to network and streaming platforms rather than owning distribution.
• Imagine Entertainment: Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's independent production company producing films, television, and branded content. Closely comparable as a long-running, founder-driven indie studio with diversified output across broadcast, streaming, and feature films.
• 3 Arts Entertainment: Independent talent management and production company behind shows such as The Office, The Hangover, and many comedy-led franchises. Comparable as a comedy-heavy, talent-anchored production entity that monetizes IP through studio and network partnerships.
• A24: Independent entertainment company producing and distributing film and television, including prestige comedies (Euphoria, Funny Pages). Comparable as a privately-held indie studio with brand-driven IP and diversified platform output.
• Conaco: Conan O'Brien's independent production company producing late-night and comedy content across TV, podcasting, and digital. Comparable as a founder-led comedy production studio that has migrated from broadcast to multi-platform (podcasts, streaming) monetization.
• Will Packer Productions: Independent film and TV production company behind Girls Trip, Ride Along, and the Academy Awards broadcast. Comparable as a privately-held, founder-driven production company producing comedy and event programming for major networks and streamers.

Broad incumbents

• Lionsgate: Major independent studio with large film/TV slate and global distribution. Comparable as an independent content producer/distributor, though broader and publicly traded, operating at materially greater scale.
• Fremantle: Global production and distribution company behind formats like American Idol, Got Talent, and X Factor. Comparable because of its global format-licensing model and scripted production capabilities — directly relevant to Broadway Video's international SNL format strategy.
• Endemol Shine Group: One of the world's largest global content producers with deep format-licensing expertise (Black Mirror, MasterChef, Big Brother). Comparable as a global format licensor with broad geographic reach, mirroring Broadway Video's SNL international licensing footprint.

Emerging players

• Funny or Die: Comedy-focused production and digital platform producing short-form and scripted comedy content. Comparable in comedic DNA and talent relationships, though smaller and digitally native rather than broadcast-anchored.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/broadwayvideo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/broadway-video

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Broadway Video