In an effort to boost theater attendance, cinemas across the U.S. are expanding their screenings to include concerts, plays, operas and sports events.
Among this year’s offerings have been the Metropolitan Opera’s performance of “Twilight of the Gods,” a live version of radio show “This American Life,” the National Theatre’s stage production “Frankenstein,” and the Mayweather-Cotto boxing match.
“Along with improved food offerings, bigger screens and 3D projections, theaters nationwide are programming more so-called alternative content,” reports the Los Angeles Times. “Hoping to reverse long-term declines in theater attendance by luring customers away from an increasing array of entertainment options in the home, they’re showing live rock concerts, plays, operas, boxing matches, college basketball games and even public radio shows, often to sold-out houses.”
Approximately two-thirds of the 40,000 U.S. screens have converted to digital, making electronic delivery via satellite possible. “In the next two years 2,000 theaters with a combined 15,000 screens will be connected to a new satellite distribution network,” notes the article.
This opens up new options for exhibitors, especially during traditionally low attendance times.
At $25 per ticket, some 400 theaters screened the Mayweather-Cotto match in May. “At many of those theaters, the fight was sold out and was, on a per-screen basis, the second-highest-grossing offering that day, behind Marvel Studios’ blockbuster ‘The Avengers,'” explains the article.
“With the technology we’re putting into place, we will have a high-quality digital delivery system that can support both live entertainment and theatrical exhibition,” said Darcy Antonellis, chief technology officer for Warner Bros. “It’s the natural evolution of digital cinema.”
My university in NJ regularly screens operas and London stage performances to sold-out crowds (and the prices are higher than $25). How about gaming competitions via digital cinema? Smaller venues, including bars, are finding an audience for gamers who want to compete and watch.
Rob ScottJune 22, 2012 at 06:21am
My university in NJ regularly screens operas and London stage performances to sold-out crowds (and the prices are higher than $25). How about gaming competitions via digital cinema? Smaller venues, including bars, are finding an audience for gamers who want to compete and watch.
In an effort to boost theater attendance, cinemas across the U.S. are expanding their screenings to include concerts, plays, operas and sports events.
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My university in NJ regularly screens operas and London stage performances to sold-out crowds (and the prices are higher than $25). How about gaming competitions via digital cinema? Smaller venues, including bars, are finding an audience for gamers who want to compete and watch.
My university in NJ regularly screens operas and London stage performances to sold-out crowds (and the prices are higher than $25). How about gaming competitions via digital cinema? Smaller venues, including bars, are finding an audience for gamers who want to compete and watch.
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