Live from Local Bijou: Sports, Games, More

"For some exhibitors, it is live events -- not feature films -- that has them most excited about 3-D.

"Our goal is live," Tim Richards, CEO of U.K.-based Vue Cinemas, said Wednesday at ShoWest during a panel session that explored alternative content. Talking about his experience with 2-D live content, including sporting events, concerts and operas, he added, "Our guests will pay a premium -- in some cases 30%-100% more -- for these screenings."

Tom Stephenson, president and CEO of Dallas-based Rave Motion Pictures, believes there needs to be a 3-D component to showing live events.

"I personally think the future of putting a 2-D image on the screen is not the growth part of this business," he said. "If it is transformed (into 3-D), I believe this business gets a lot better. They are very close to being able to do that, and that will open up many doors."

Said Ellis Jacob, president and CEO of Canada's Cineplex Entertainment: "This business would grow dramatically if the studios get into the business, and I think they will. With those organizations you have some of the largest marketing machines in the world. I think when they embrace alternative content ... because they own a lot of those channels, you are going to see a huge change in 3-D sports entertainment and alternative events. ... (Today) we are just scratching the surface."

Current issues related to screening live events include production costs and rights.

As to technical costs, Richards said that once the infrastructure is installed, "satellite cost is probably the biggest single cost. The good news (is that this business is in its infancy and) there are no set rules. ... A number of the (concert) acts take a pragmatic approach and think of this as a marketing activity. We have everything from no change to a charge (for rights)."

Scale also is a consideration. "In some cases, the producer or event coordinators are not interested in the small amount of money a circuit can generate," Stephenson said. "Unless it is done on a much larger scale, it becomes difficult."

Looking ahead, Richards suggested that the "biggest untapped potential" in alternative content is video games. He pointed out that games are not time sensitive, therefore they would not need to interfere with prime theatergoing hours -- a concern voiced by some exhibitors."

By Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter

XDC, Qubo and Dynamic Launch “DDCinema”, The First Pan-European Alternative Content Distribution Initiative

"XDC announced today that it has signed a cooperation agreement with Qubo and Dynamic to launch, promote and manage the distribution of digital cinema alternative content through the DDCinema service platform. The initial purpose is the distribution of lyrical operas, produced at the most prestigious European theatres, with a mix of recorded and live events. DDCinema will offer to cinemas an eclectic range of alternative content, i.e. all programming content other than films, trailers and advertising content, including, but not limited to, television programs, sporting events, stage productions, concerts, documentaries, anime films and live events.

As Fabrice Testa, Marketing & Operations Manager of XDC, pointed out, “DDCinema alternative content programmes will be available to all exhibitors across Europe equipped with 2K digital projectors - about 700 screens today.” He added: “Any MXF interoperable D-Cinema server will be able to play back any alternative content prepared by the XDC Digital Content Lab, DDCinema offer is thus not only limited to the screens connected to XDC’s Network Operations Centre.”

Today, the DDCinema platform already offers about 25 opera titles, and on 27th January 2008 it will offer the first live broadcast from Palermo, Italy, on the opening night of the season of Teatro Massimo, one of the most beautiful theatres in the world. The opera in question, featuring singers of international renown, will be a new production of Arrigo Boito’s Mefistofele, a spectacular work taken from W. Goethe’s Faust. More live events are planned from Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Teatro La Fenice di Venezia, Teatro Liceu of Barcelona, Teatro Real of Madrid, and other renowned venues."

Source: DCinemaToday