National CineMedia announced today that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Screenvision, for $375 million of cash and stock on a debt free, cash free basis. We will have a more complete report with analysis in the coming days.
Evergrande Real Estate Group, one of the ten largest real estate developers in Mainland China, is expanding its business to the cinema industry. In an initial phase, the Evergrande Cinema Line is building 77 cinema complexes in residential neighborhoods across the country, five of which are already operational.
Cinedigm and Rapid Eye Film announced they have entered into a multi-picture distribution and production output deal for North America encompassing 15 films. Rapid Eye Film will produce, co-produce or acquire three to four genre-centric films per year. Cinedigm will handle the theatrical and home entertainment release and distribution strategy for each picture, with Rapid Eye Film producing and managing the marketing.
Production company Ketchum Labs, a creative incubator challenging conventional entertainment models of production and distribution, and BlackBoxTV, the number one online genre channel with over 600,000 loyal fans, are launching a strategic production and distribution partnership.
Studio Movie Grill is opening its ninth Texas location and seventh in the Dallas Metroplex in Colleyville and the company says it has already impacted the local economy in significant ways.
2G Digital, a Burbank post-production facility specializing in digital supply chain services, and DuArt, a New York facility offering comprehensive post-production services for video, digital media and film, have entered into a strategic partnership that will allow both companies to expand their geographic reach and add new services.
As the South American market continues to rapidly expand, Doremi has reached a major agreement with Royal Films, one of Colombia’s largest cinema operators, through Bardan Cinema, one of Latin America’s largest integrators. Further expanding Doremi’s presence in the continent, this agreement adds 130 ShowVault/ IMB servers to Royal Film’s theaters.
National CineMedia has renewed its long-term affiliate agreement with leading regional movie theater circuit Cobb Theatres and is also adding four new regional theater circuits to its network to further expand its national reach and geographic coverage.
The Digital Cinema Distribution Coalition has concluded a template agreement with the Cinema Buying Group that comprises approximately 600 small- and medium-sized independent U.S. exhibitor members of the National Association of Theatre Owners’ CBG program. Pursuant to the agreement, DCDC will provide access to its cost-efficient North American satellite and terrestrial digital delivery platform. DCDC CEO Randy Blotky and David Binet, director of membership for NATO, jointly announced the news.
Audience Entertainment and Barco have announced a strategic partnership, creating a new interactive technology platform for moviegoers called iD - Interactive Dimension. iD builds upon digital projection and 3D technology to create a new cinema environment allowing moviegoers to physically connect and control the screen's content the moment they take their seat.
