Hollywood Reporter -- Major film exhibitors at an investor conference predicted increased boxoffice momentum in the second quarter and vowed to use technology and innovation to further improve the moviegoing experience to stay relevant in a rapidly changing industry.
Exhibition chains had an unusually strong presence at the annual Bank of America Media, Telecommunications and Entertainment Conference, with Regal Entertainment Group, AMC Entertainment, National Amusements and Carmike Cinemas trudging out top executives.
One big theme for exhibitors was the need to "continuously improve the experience" of seeing movies away from home. Tony Reed, senior vp, said Carmike's recently started rollout of digital cinema should allow the firm to get more art house and limited release fare, for which prints have so far been too expensive, into its theaters.
Among alternative content Carmike is looking at bringing to its screens and locations are concerts, evangelists and other religious programming, wrestling, gaming content, NASCAR and other sports, as well as comedy.
Exhibition chains had an unusually strong presence at the annual Bank of America Media, Telecommunications and Entertainment Conference, with Regal Entertainment Group, AMC Entertainment, National Amusements and Carmike Cinemas trudging out top executives.
One big theme for exhibitors was the need to "continuously improve the experience" of seeing movies away from home. Tony Reed, senior vp, said Carmike's recently started rollout of digital cinema should allow the firm to get more art house and limited release fare, for which prints have so far been too expensive, into its theaters.
Among alternative content Carmike is looking at bringing to its screens and locations are concerts, evangelists and other religious programming, wrestling, gaming content, NASCAR and other sports, as well as comedy.