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What are some of the main things that you feel the exhibition<br />
industry can do to compete with the increasing popularity of<br />
home-viewing options? What role does alternative content<br />
play in that?<br />
Exhibitors need to continue to enhance the overall audience experience<br />
and feed the desire of audiences for unique content in<br />
a communal setting—that’s what sets theaters apart from living<br />
rooms. And digital cinema enables just that. From the ability to<br />
show 3D programs and offer interactive, big screen gaming, live<br />
events, concerts and alternative content, exhibitors now have a<br />
whole new range of entertainment options up on the big screen<br />
for their audiences who want to view content they can never see<br />
in their homes.<br />
Why do you think alternative content is catching on as fast as<br />
it is?<br />
It comes back to the communal nature of people and theater-going<br />
audiences. Moviegoers want to be together with like-minded audiences<br />
watching programming that feels like it was created just for<br />
them. When you look at the successful alternative content programs<br />
that Cinedigm has distributed, from the Kidtoons matinees to<br />
our live 3D sports events and concerts, audiences clearly desire the<br />
bigger, better, bolder and collective experience that only our digital<br />
theaters can provide. Plus, with the supply of theatrical releases falling<br />
flat, there’s more need now for alternative content—the exhibitors<br />
need it and the viewers want it.<br />
The theatrical release window is obviously a very sensitive subject<br />
for the industry right now. Where do you stand on the topic?<br />
We support exhibition’s stance on windowing for studio-level film<br />
releases. For alternative content, I think we need to consider a new<br />
economic model where exhibitors also share in the downstream<br />
profits like DVD, VOD and Pay TV. Besides creating a significant<br />
new content distribution business, this new model would help<br />
strengthen exhibition financially.<br />
What would you like to see Cinedigm accomplish in the next<br />
five years?<br />
The ultimate goal for Cinedigm is to create a new entertainment<br />
model using our digital platform and bold technology to improve<br />
and expand the overall audience experience while creating important<br />
new revenue streams and management efficiencies for our<br />
studio and exhibition partners. Cinedigm is poised to make that<br />
happen, benefiting everyone involved: the exhibitors and studios<br />
win through new revenue opportunities and management tools;<br />
producers win through new outlets and demand for alternative<br />
content; and obviously the consumers win through expanded entertainment<br />
choices with digital, 3D, live and interactive experiences<br />
only available in theaters. I want to see Cinedigm lead the way to<br />
a stronger, more robust entertainment industry that provides the<br />
ultimate social networking experience for consumers: together in<br />
the theater watching and interacting with the entertainment they<br />
love up on the big screen.<br />
APRIL <strong>2011</strong> BOXOFFICE PRO 43
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