We're as tired of the doom and gloom
economy talk as you are, but we just couldn't pass this one up. A new report from
Bloomberg News has it that the current credit crunch (how's that for a buzzword?) is putting a damper on
3D cinema expansion. Which is quite funny, given the
small flood of
expansion reports that
we've seen of late. Citing Cinedigm Digital Cinema in particular, it notes that plans to convert some 1,500 cinemas to 3D-capable venues have been replaced with plans that include 100 to 200. The lack of available 3D theater options could seriously hinder studios' ability to cash in and make back their own 3D investment; after all, who's really going to drive an hour of their way for a 3D version of a film showing just down the street? In reality, we don't expect this situation to be the rule going forward, but it'll certainly be interesting to see how studios feel about their 3D investments around this time next year.
[Image courtesy of
U2]
posted Dec 10th 2008 10:56AM
My company has been actively expanding its 3D theaters even though we are a smaller chain. They rushed to install before bolt 3-d, and now we are getting our second digital projector this week. I have heard some talk about credit crunch in reference to expanding our number of movie theatre buildings, but not converting to digital 3-D. A smaller chain (18 movie theatres) sees this as a necessity, so that the other companies don’t have a competitive advantage. So in a way it’s a good thing for us, but maybe a bad thing for the studios.
Maybe charging folks an extra $2 min per ticket is not sitting well with folks either?
Yes, I paid the extra $2 for Bolt tickets. That was only so my kid could see it. If it was a movie for me... not a chance. I will keep the $2 and avoid the headache given from the skull-pinching 3D glasses.
I would rather theaters:
1. put in more of those crystal sharp projectors
2. keep the screens clean
3. Have fewer movies screens, but bigger ones (the days of the huge cinema screen seems to be dead now days and are there really 20 new movies out any given time that people want to see?). If I want to watch a movie on a small screen I will just stay home.
Regal Entertainment Group will be starting a nation wide large scale 3D rollout at the beginning of next year. over 75% of the companies locations will have multiple 3D digital systems by the end of 2009.