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Screenvision and National Amusements, Inc. Forge Groundbreaking Agreement to Enhance Preshow Movie Experience
New York - (Sept. 6, 2006)
Leading Cinema Advertising Company to Bring Its High-
Definition Digital Network to More Than 1,000 National
Amusements Screens
Screenvision, the world's leading
cinema advertising company, has signed a new, exclusive multi-year agreement
with Massachusetts-based National Amusements Theatres, Inc., a world leader in
the motion picture exhibition industry, the parent of Viacom and CBS
Corporation, and an equal partner in MovieTickets.com. Screenvision, which
represents National Amusements for national, regional and local preshow
advertising on its U.S. screens, will install its high-definition digital projection
system on more than 1,000 of National Amusements' domestic screens. The
expansion will significantly enhance Screenvision's nationwide digital network in
the top 50 DMAs, including New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington D.C.,
and Detroit. Further, under the agreement, Screenvision and National
Amusements will collaborate in developing state-of-the art movie preshow
programs which contain high-quality consumer entertainment, and offer
advertisers unique promotional opportunities.
"This deal demonstrates how Screenvision can meet the challenging financial,
technological, and preshow entertainment needs of the exhibition community,"
said Matthew Kearney, chief executive officer of Screenvision. "By funding and
overseeing a high-definition digital network capable of enhanced cinema preshow
entertainment, advertising and alternative content services, we contribute
significantly to the revenue and digital cinema objectives of our exhibitor
partners."
"National Amusements is focused on reinventing the movie-going experience,"
said Shari Redstone, president of National Amusements, Inc. "This partnership is
an important step in that process, and allows us to recreate preshow entertainment
and advertising. Screenvision's digital platform is also one of the key elements of
our strategy for alternative programming, such as simulcasts of Red Sox games,
concerts, children's programming, and other unique concepts. We are very excited
about the potential that this partnership offers for close collaboration and future
business development."
Under the terms of the new agreement, Screenvision also retains long-term
exclusive rights to sell all of National Amusements' onscreen advertising for the
preshow on U.S. screens. National Amusements Theatres operates cinemas under
the brand names Cinema de Lux, Showcase Cinemas, and Multiplex Cinemas in
the United States.
Screenvision will invest more than $10 million in high-definition satellite,
networking and projection equipment for National Amusements theatres. The
Screenvision system delivers its digital entertainment preshow, and can screen
entertainment content such as cartoons and shorts, live sports, and a full range of
advertising formats. The Screenvision system is also compatible with Digital
Cinema Initiatives, LLC (DCI) digital cinema projection systems designed to
exhibit feature films. This compatibility enables Screenvision to deliver
advertising content through its system or through the exhibitor's DCI-level
system, and it enables the Screenvision system to serve as a path to DCI-level
projection for exhibitors pursuing this capability.
Screenvision's current digital entertainment preshow features a mix of
entertainment content, music and advertising, with an on-camera host who guides
consumers through the program and directs attention to key segments. Using this
format, Screenvision has produced a variety of themed shows and specials that
resonate well with moviegoers, including: "SCREAMvision," for Halloween;
December's "Home for the Holidays;" "Screenvision Rolls Out the Red Carpet,"
celebrating awards season; and the summer music specials "Screenvision's
Summer Music" and "Screenvision Brings You the Beat."
"Receptivity levels for our special shows are well over 90%, said Darryl Schaffer,
executive vice president of exhibitor relations at Screenvision. "We believe there
is value and opportunity in continuing to invest in the development of the cinema
advertising preshow and intend to rekindle the positive anticipation movie-goers
had decades ago when consumers were treated to a cartoon, a newsreel or other
entertainment in advance of the film start."
Screenvision will now collaborate with National Amusements to further enhance
its digital entertainment preshow. Under the agreement, the companies plan to
increase the production of original entertainment content segments and program
specials, many of which will include sponsorship and branded entertainment
opportunities for advertisers. Custom preshows targeting specific National
Amusements theatre brands will be developed. Entertainment preshows for
specific ratings-based audiences are planned to best target entertainment and
advertising content based on age demographics of the viewing audience. The two
companies will work together to attract A-list talent and entertainment properties
to contribute additional entertainment content segments.
About Screenvision
About Screenvision
Headquartered in New York, N.Y., Screenvision is the world's foremost cinema advertising
company, offering on-screen advertising, in-lobby promotions and integrated marketing programs
to national, regional and local advertisers and providing comprehensive cinema advertising
representation services for its theatrical exhibitor partners. In the U.S., the Screenvision cinema
advertising network is comprised of more than 14,000 screens in over 2,300 theatre locations across
all 50 States and 91% of DMAs nationwide, and delivers approximately 700 million consumer
impressions annually through more than 140 theatrical circuits, including 10 of the top 15 exhibition
companies. Screenvision is a joint venture between ITV plc (LSE: ITV), the UK's largest commercial
television network, and Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS), a global supplier of
technology, services, and systems to the media and entertainment industries. For more information:
http://www.screenvision.com.
About National Amusements, Inc.
National Amusements, Inc. is a world leader in the motion picture exhibition industry, operating more
than 1,500 screens in the U.S., U.K., Latin America, and Russia. National Amusements delivers a
superior entertainment experience in theatres around the world under its Showcase, Multiplex,
Cinema de Lux, and KinoStar brands. Based in Dedham, Massachusetts, National Amusements is a
closely held company operating under the third generation of leadership by the Redstone family.
National Amusements is also an equal partner in the online ticketing service, MovieTickets.com, and
is the parent company of both Viacom and CBS Corporation.