National CineMedia has named Rick Butler chief digital officer. In his new role, Butler will lead the company’s digital products and data initiatives to deliver both innovative consumer experiences and new ways for brands to connect with movie audiences.
For the first time in the U.S., D-Box will install motion recliner seats in two full auditoriums. The first installation is slated for November at the Maya Bakersfield Theatre in California. The second installation will start in December at the North Las Vegas Theater and be completed just in time for the highly anticipated holiday blockbuster season.
Despite the fact that the industry adopted an internationally ratified SMPTE DCP standard nearly a decade ago, there remains widespread confusion and disagreement about what constitutes a universally accepted digital cinema package. If that sentence makes no sense to you, you’re not alone. For months the European Digital Cinema Forum with sponsorship from the International Union of Cinemas has been developing a web portal to address this problem. Their mission statement is, “To act as an informational resource for the industry on the SMPTE DCP and its operational use, and to provide a point of reference of on-boarding for those individuals/organizations willing to aid in the transitional process on a territory by territory basis.”
Cineplexx Kinobetriebe is installing the company’s first MediaMation MX4D Motion EFX Theatre, making it the first such installation in Austria. The 72-seat, 18-bench theatre is located in Graz, the country’s second largest city.
Samsung has announced a new CSI Leasing program to service existing and future Samsung customers. In separate news, Samsung has shared a list of certified resellers for the Samsung Onyx. The new leasing program will enable Samsung to provide customers with full-service lease solutions for its B2B display products, including but not limited to the revolutionary Samsung Onyx, industry leading Smart Signage solutions, hospitality displays and business monitors.
Fandango announced today it has signed multi-year deals with leading international exhibitors Cinemark, Cinepolis (in Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile and Colombia), National Amusements (Showcase Cinemas, UCI) and Cinemex, adding more than 5,000 new screens in more than 15 Latin American countries. The new deals will bring Fandango’s global screen count to more than 45,000 worldwide.
A new study conducted as part of a School of Communication research course at Emerson College has found that film critics' moderate influence on movies can have a significant impact on box office revenue. While an earlier Emerson study found that film critics have a moderate influence on movie outcomes for wide releases, the revenue difference between movies with negative and positive reviews on opening weekend was an average of $23 million. The study also found a revenue difference of $83 million for total domestic gross revenue.
CGR Cinemas has chosen Christie as its exclusive laser projection partner, as it moves to convert all 700 of its theatres to RGB pure laser technology. In a landmark agreement that sees CGR becoming the largest investor in Christie RealLaser systems in the world today, 200 CGR Classic auditoriums will be redeveloped for Christie RealLaser over the next two years.
EclairColor has certified French integrator Audio Visual and Development Enterprise. ADDE’s technical department completed its EclairColor high dynamic range certification last week, which in return allows the company to sell, install and service EclairColor-compatible projection systems.
Keeping projectors and other cinema equipment up and running is a primary concern for exhibitors. If you own a Series 1 or an early Series 2 projector, you may already be facing significant cost of ownership issues, including more frequent breakdowns and longer downtimes. Even worse, manufacturers may no longer support your equipment — or may soon stop supporting it — making replacement parts expensive or even unavailable.
