National CineMedia (NCM), a leading integrated media company reaching U.S. consumers in movie theaters, online and through mobile technology, has entered into a network affiliate agreement with Great Escape Theatres, an Indiana-based cinema chain, for the presentation of cinema advertising and NCM Fathom entertainment and business events in theaters.
Under the terms of the exclusive multi-year agreement, 26 Great Escape Theatres with 307 screens in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia will join the NCM Cinema Network beginning in September 2010. Focused in mid-sized markets, Great Escape Theatres has an estimated annual attendance of over seven million patrons. In addition to exclusively presenting NCM’s FirstLook pre-feature program, select Great Escape locations will also present NCM Fathom’s live and pre-recorded in-theater entertainment and corporate events.
“Great Escape Theatres are a great complement to our network, as they provide additional geographic coverage in key Midwestern and Southern markets,” said Kurt Hall, NCM’s president and chief executive officer. “These new theater additions complement our larger markets and bring significant value to brands and entertainment content providers looking to connect with Great Escape’s heartland audiences.”
“We chose to work with National CineMedia because they’re the leader in the cinema advertising industry,” said Anne Ragains, CEO of Great Escape. “The fact that NCM is an integrated media company with multiple platforms like NCM Fathom events and the NCM Interactive Network made good business sense to us. We’re excited that our theaters will now be a part of such an innovative network. Coupled with our recent deployment of digital projection and 3-D technology, we have insured that Great Escape Theatres will remain an industry leader in film exhibition.”
Great Escape Theatres represents the most recent expansion of the NCM Cinema Network – the largest digital in-theater video and satellite distribution network in North America. NCM currently has exclusive, long-term cinema advertising agreements in place with its founding member exhibitors, AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings Inc. and Regal Entertainment Group, as well as network affiliate pacts with theater circuits such as Carolina Cinemas, Cobb Theatres, Galaxy Theatres, LLC, Georgia Theatre Company, Goodrich Quality Theaters, Hollywood Theaters, Kerasotes ShowPlace Theatres, Metropolitan Theatres, MJR Theatres, Picture Show Theatres, ShowBiz Cinemas, LLC, Starplex Cinemas and Storyteller Theatres Corporation, among others
