Arts Alliance Media and Deluxe have announced a strategic co-operation agreement which will enable theatres in the US and Canada using the Deluxe EchoStar electronic delivery platform to benefit from AAM’s theatre management system Screenwriter.
Deluxe has announced a strategic partnership with CineSend for electronic delivery of content to cinemas in Canada. The partnership joins CineSend’s existing network with Deluxe’s electronic delivery platform to create a single fulfillment service.
Deluxe and EchoStar Corporation today introduced an expanded movie distribution service for theatres across the U.S. The enhanced offering adds high-speed, terrestrial broadband and a new content management portal to the companies’ existing satellite distribution system, which currently serves more than 3,000 cinemas.
The Digital Cinema Distribution Coalition has announced that longtime film industry veteran Howard Kiedaisch will take the reigns as CEO, effective July 7. Kiedaisch succeeds Randolph “Randy” Blotky, who is stepping down as CEO.
A new digital platform with the working title Cinnovate has secured € 380.000 funding through the European Union programme Cinemas as Innovation Hubs for Local Communities. The effort’s partners include four of Europe’s leading arthouse cinema networks – Folkets Hus och Parker, Folkets Bio (both from Sweden), Access Cinema (Ireland) and Art kino mreža Slovenije (Slowenia) – that together count 308 screens in three territories and will be coordinated by Cologne-based video-on-demand and digital distribution experts Rushlake Media and independent consultant Jan Runge. Additional content and network partners are the Event Cinema Association (United Kingdom), Spielfabrique (Germany) and IMZ International Music + Media Centre (Austria).
The social cinema platform Kinema has launched following a $2 million seed funding round backed by key investors, including Kindred Ventures, Lupa System, Galaxy Interactive and I2BF Global Ventures. According to the company, the Kinema platform expands the film marketing and distribution industry by enabling a social and immersive cinema experience. With the goal of eliminating ‘theater deserts’ and expanding access to engaging film, Kinema is building a world-wide network of screening hosts, filmmakers and filmgoers.
MacGillivray Freeman Films has announced a partnership with MetaMedia to bring educational films to conventional commercial theatres and drive-ins across the U.S. and Canada for educational and group screenings. A number of MacGillivray Freeman’s films will be shown at theatres throughout North America, including Into America’s Wild, America’s Musical Journey and Great Bear Rainforest, among others.
As director of distribution at Picturehouse Entertainment Marc Allenby helped bring the Metropolitan Opera and Bolshoi Ballet to cinemas in the UK and launched both NTLive and RSC Live. In 2017 he helped facilitate the management buyout that re-established the company with its experienced team as Trafalgar Releasing, where today he is CEO. In 2018 he established offices in the United States, a move he sees as “a vital part of the companies’ future plans and growth.” Headquartered in London, Trafalgar Releasing today also has offices in New York and Denver. Before the pandemic the company experienced significant growth and won numerous accolades including most recently the largest ever event cinema release with BTS’ Burn the Stage: The Movie. Despite the pandemic Trafalgar was moderately successful in 2020.
Deluxe has acquired Sony New Media Solutions, a subsidiary of Sony Electronics. Sony NMS provides a wide array of media platform services to many leading global media companies including Sony Pictures Entertainment. Terms of the deal will not be disclosed.
Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar accounted for 50 percent of all streaming video-on-demand subscribers in India in 2020, according to Omdia’s latest 2021 Online Video Market and Consumer Trends Report. Omidia’s principal analyst, TV and online video, consumer Constantinos Papavassilopoulos said, “The online video market of India is steadily growing its foothold in every direction. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the growth rate of an already dynamic and robust OTT market.”
