BOX OFFICE UP 4.5% IN 2009

Box Office Numbers up 4.5% so far in ‘09

By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

http://www.variety.com/articleVR1117999175.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2562

Theater admissions fell less than anticipated in 2008 — 2.5% — while they are up a sizeable 4.5% so far this year.Tallies provide further evidence that moviegoing has become a favorite pastime in brutal economic times.

Industry estimates released at the end of December showed that admissions for 2008 were running 4%-5% behind 2007.

However, the decline in admissions turned out to be narrower than that as the National Assn. of Theater Owners announced Tuesday that the 2008 average ticket price was $7.18, lower than expected. (It’s 30¢ more than the $6.88 paid for a ticket on average in 2007.)

B.O. revenues for 2008 were up more than 1% over 2007, making it the best year ever at the domestic B.O. For the time period Jan. 2, 2008, through Jan. 1, 2009, revs were $9.64 billion, according to Rentrak.

The number of people actually buying tickets at the theater kiosk always fluctuates since ticket prices rise annually. Hence admissions can be down but revenues up.

A 2.5% dip in admissions is relatively mild, particularly considering the falloff in other sectors in the last six months. Admissions were down more than 7% in 2005, for instance, and 4.8% in 2003. They were up slightly in 2007 and 2006.

The box office has been on a winning run since last summer. Some observers attribute the healthy B.O. to the fact that heading for the multiplex — or arthouse — is far less expensive than other entertainment outings, such as sports or concerts.

The strength of the January domestic box office has caught the film biz off-guard. Like admissions, B.O. revs are up, seeing a gain of 7% over the same frame last year.

Clint Eastwood’s “Gran Torino” is the leader, grossing nearly $100 million to date for Warner Bros. and well on its way to becoming Eastwood’s best box office earner for a film he’s either directed or starred in.

Sony’s sleeper hit “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” has likewise overperformed, cuming $65 million through Jan. 25.

About Hollywood Branding:              

Hollywood Branding, started in 2001, works with 30 marketing companies to provide a simple, stress-free avenue to research and run ad campaigns on movie theaters nationwide.  Our database includes every cinema in the U.S. that offers any kind of advertising opportunity on-screen or in the lobby.  We offer free planning, rates, research, and media buying expertise.  Some of our clients include Disney, US Army, the Food & Drug Administration, the state of VA, the city of Los Angeles, the FL Health Department, the state of OR, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, eBay, and the National Crime Commission.

Email Beverly Nation or call 636-485-5832

3D to Become the New HD

Analysts predict $25 bil 3-D market by 2012

Exhibitors first to benefit from the technology, report says

By Georg Szalai

Jan 27, 2009, 05:58 PM ET

NEW YORK — The 3-D market could be valued at more than $25 billion by 2012, with the boxoffice and movie exhibitors set to benefit from its growth spurt first, according to a new report from Piper Jaffray analysts.

The projected growth amounts to a compound annual growth rate of about 50%, with the analysts forecasting a $5.5 billion 3-D market this year.

The technology could mean a boon for the U.S. boxoffice, which the Piper Jaffray team expects to go from flat in 2008 and 2009 to an average gain of 12% year-over-year in 2010 and 2011.

“We expect the theatrical entertainment window will be the first to benefit from this technology,” Piper Jaffray media and entertainment analyst James Marsh and online content analyst Michael Olsen said in their new 3-D White Paper. “We expect the technology will become more widespread over time, moving from theaters to high-end home theater solutions and eventually to the average living room.”

The duo suggest that exhibitors are best positioned to benefit from this trend thanks to higher 3-D admission prices that could come at a 30%-40% premium and likely attendance gains, projecting that cash flow growth rates for major players will be at least 10% higher in 2010 and 2011.

The Piper Jaffray team sees Regal Entertainment Group as best positioned to take advantage of the 3-D trend, along with Carmike Cinemas and Cinemark. They called Regal the purest 3-D play, forecasting an attendance improvement of 5% by 2011.

Meanwhile, Carmike is well positioned due to its industry leading digital screen buildout, which already has brought 3-D capability to 18% of its screens. And Cinemark is poised to benefit as its theaters “are located in higher-growth U.S. markets, are modern and updated, and run efficiently, resulting in industry leading metrics,” the report said.

Marsh also likes the prospects for DreamWorks Animation, given that its management team was among the first to focus on the 3-D opportunity.

Entertainment companies with big libraries also will have a chance to exploit library titles in 3-D, but this process will take more time as 3-D conversion costs must come down further, he argued.

Technology companies that stand to benefit from the upgrade cycle to 3-D include Dolby and RealD.

In a conference call Tuesday, Marsh predicted that, following 3-D success in theaters, “3-D will become the new HD,” bringing the technology to TV sets, video game consoles and other devices.

Real D CEO Michael Lewis said Tuesday that his company is approaching installations on 1,700 screens, with many more already on backlog. Given that a majority of planned 3-D releases are large tentpole movies, he predicted that over a 3-5 year period, 3-D could close in on a 30%-50% share of U.S. — and, ultimately, worldwide — boxoffice.

About Hollywood Branding:              

Hollywood Branding, started in 2001, works with 30 marketing companies to provide a simple, stress-free avenue to research and run ad campaigns on movie theaters nationwide.  Our database includes every cinema in the U.S. that offers any kind of advertising opportunity on-screen or in the lobby.  We offer free planning, rates, research, and media buying expertise.  Some of our clients include Disney, US Army, the Food & Drug Administration, the state of VA, the city of Los Angeles, the FL Health Department, the state of OR, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, eBay, and the National Crime Commission.

Email Beverly Nation or call 636-485-5832

ANIME SCREENING AT 360 THEATERS FEB. 5TH

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

http://comicswait.blogspot.com/2009/01/u.html

THE U.S. DEBUT OF SWORD OF THE STRANGER – A ROUSING SAMURAI ANIME EPIC – HITS MOVIE THEATRES NATIONWIDE
FOR A ONE NIGHT EVENT

Tickets Now on Sale for Exclusive In-Theatre Anime Event

Appearing in More than 360 Movie Theatres on February 5th

Centennial, Colo. ? Jan. 6, 2009 ? NCM Fathom and Bandai Entertainment presents Sword of the Stranger, an exhilarating samurai anime tale straight from Japan, on the big screen in a special one-night event on Thursday, Feb. 5th at 7:30 p.m. local time. This unique theatre event (English dubbed) that brings the story of a nameless samurai to movie theatres will feature an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the Sword of the Stranger at studio BONES as well as never-before-seen interviews with the English voice actors, director Masahiro Ando, and legendary producer Mashiko Minami.

Tickets for this special event are available at www.FathomEvents.com and presenting theatre box offices. For a complete list of theatre locations and prices, visit the website (theatres are subject to change).

Acclaimed Japanese anime studio BONES (“Cowboy Bebop,” “Full Metal Alchemist,” “Soul Eater”) brings Sword of the Stranger to life for this one-night exclusive event. Hunted by the Mings from China, a young boy named Kotaro and his loyal dog Tobimaru meet a nameless samurai who is haunted by his past – a memory so terrible he has vowed to never draw his sword again. Among the Mings is Luo-Lang, a ruthless Western swordsman with the Chinese name who has walked the earth in search of a worthy rival. When both groups clash with a feudal lord and monks torn between faith and survival, the truth behind the Mings’ pursuit of Kotaro tests the bond between the boy and the samurai.

“Bandai Entertainment is proud to partner with NCM Fathom for the American debut of Sword of the Stranger – this film has some of the most stunning action choreography ever seen in anime film,” said Robert Napton, marketing director for Bandai Entertainment, Inc. “Anime and samurai fans won’t want to miss this visually amazing and emotionally compelling event at their local movie theatre, where this film was meant to be seen.”

Sword of the Stranger, which was recently submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for consideration for Best Animated Feature of 2008, appears on the big screen in high-definition with Cinema Surround Sound in more than 360 select AMC Entertainment Inc., Celebration! Cinema, Cinemark Holdings, Inc., Clearview Cinemas, Cobb Theatres, Georgia Theatre Company, Goodrich Quality Theatres, Hollywood Theaters, Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, Marcus Theatres, National Amusements and Regal Entertainment Group movie theatres, as well as Arlington Theatre (Santa Barbara, CA) and Palace Cinema 9 (South Burlington, VT) through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network ? North America’s largest cinema broadcast network.

“NCM Fathom has experienced great success bringing anime events to the big screen in limited engagement events and we are excited to bring Sword of the Stranger to anime fans across the country this February,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of NCM Fathom.

About Hollywood Branding:

Hollywood Branding, started in 2001, works with 30 marketing companies to provide a simple, stress-free avenue to research and run ad campaigns on movie theaters nationwide.  Our database includes every cinema in the U.S. that offers any kind of advertising opportunity on-screen or in the lobby.  We offer free planning, rates, research, and media buying expertise.  Some of our clients include Disney, US Army, the Food & Drug Administration, the state of VA, the city of Los Angeles, the FL Health Department, the state of OR, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, eBay, and the National Crime Commission.

Email Beverly Nation or call 636-485-5832

About Bandai Entertainment

Bandai Entertainment Inc. is a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings (USA) Inc. and the premier distributor of Japanese animation on DVD and programming for television broadcast in North America. Additional company and product information is available through our website at www.bandai-ent.com.

GET 40% OFF YOUR NEXT MOVIE

Image via Wikipedia

By Rick Aristotle Munarriz
January 21, 2009

http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2009/01/21/get-40-off-your-next-movie.aspx

There are two ways to shave 40% off a night at the movies.

The easy way is to go see the matinee. Shorter lines, lighter (and quieter), the exact same movie — what’s not to love?

The harder way to get the markdown is to buy shares of Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC). The movie exhibitor is slashing its quarterly dividend by 40%, from $0.30 a share to $0.18 a share.

“Regal is not under stress from debt commitments or loan maturities, our balance sheet is strong, and we are optimistic regarding the 2009 film slate,” CEO Mike Campbell explains in this morning’s press release. “But we believe that the current environment requires a more conservative capital strategy, and that these combined actions allow the Company to retain more capital for de-leveraging its balance sheet and other opportunities.”

Campbell should have simply said, “Sorry investors, we can’t keep spoiling you with a 12.5% yield.”

The new yield of 7.5%, based on last night’s close, is probably still too good to be true. Sure, the new payout is less than the $0.93 a share that analysts see the multiplex giant earning this year, but Regal has $2 billion in long-term debt on its balance sheet worth tackling.

As for “other opportunities,” there are naturally plenty of attractive acquisition targets out there. Buying up smaller exhibitors like Cinemark (Nasdaq: CNK), Carmike (Nasdaq: CKEC), and Marcus (NYSE: MCS) make a lot of sense in a fragmented industry that is ripe for consolidations. However, better advice may be to diversify into related areas by snapping up companies like IMAX (Nasdaq: IMAX), in-theater advertising network National CineMedia (Nasdaq: NCMI), or Hollywood.com parent Hollywood Media (Nasdaq: HOLL). The moves would allow give the company the opportunity to spread its risk around, without straying from its celluloid stronghold.

Either way, I’ll stick to my first tip about just going to the matinee instead. At least then I know I’m getting a good deal.

Hollywood Branding, started in 2001, works with 30  marketing companies to provide a simple, stress-free avenue to research and run ad campaigns on movie theaters nationwide.  Our database includes every cinema in the U.S. that offers any kind of advertising opportunity on-screen or in the lobby.  We offer free planning, rates, research, and media buying expertise.  Some of our clients include Disney, US Army, the Food & Drug Administration, the state of VA, the city of Los Angeles, the FL Health Department, the state of OR, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, eBay, and the National Crime Commission.

www.hollywoodbranding.com

Call Beverly Nation at 636-485-5832

Office Max Tries to Cheer up the Workplace on the Big Screen

OfficeMax In-Cinema Ad Cheers Up The Workplace

Jan 12, 2009

-By Lucia Moses, Mediaweek

With drab workspaces and corporate downsizing taking their toll on white-collar America, OfficeMax is taking the stance that cubicle life doesn’t have to be depressing.

Its new campaign, “Life is beautiful. Work can be too,” uses in-cinema ads to reach design-oriented female shoppers. The ad is running on 17,000 theater screens nationwide throughout the month.

In the spot, created by The Escape Pod, a scarlet-clad woman struts into a gray office space, which subsequently bursts into colorful bloom to the strains of Ivy’s dreamlike song “Edge of the Ocean.”

“The whole idea is that the workplace is inundated with drab, with manila, with cubes,” said Matt Johnson, a rep for The Escape Pod. “And that it doesn’t have to be that way.”

Bob Thacker, OfficeMax’s svp, marketing and advertising, said the majority of its customers are women, and they are highly likely to be making office supply buying decisions and own small startups. They also are heavy movie-goers, especially at this time of year. “It’s a great media connection with our audience.”

The campaign is unusual in that it breaks with the category’s and OfficeMax’s own tradition of focusing on product and price. Rival Staples, for one, is promoting a dollar menu-style program by offering Bic pens, writing pads and other items for a buck.

Thacker said that OfficeMax is still running a variety of price-focused advertising. The “Beautiful” spot, however, speaks to today’s turbulent times, he said. “Making small little changes in the workplace that make us feel better might help everybody.”

The ad continues OfficeMax’s concerted outreach to women, which began last year with Elle magazine and Newsweek’s “Women & Leadership” conference in the campaign, which promoted its DiVoga line. It also had a first-time presence at Fashion Week. OfficeMax’s U.S. media spend totaled $12.5 million January-October 2008, down 23 percent from the same period a year earlier, per Nielsen Monitor-Plus.

Obama Live on Movie Screens Jan. 20!

Obama inauguration to air in theaters
MSNBC pact puts coverage in 27 U.S. locations

By Paul J. Gough

Jan 12, 2009, 07:15 PM ET

NEW YORK — President-elect Barack Obama is on his way to the big screen, thanks to a deal between MSNBC and Screenvision that will put the news channel’s inaugural coverage in 27 theaters around the country.

Free tickets are being handed out via MSNBC.com to see the inauguration and parade from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET at the 27 theaters run by 11 exhibitor partners in 21 markets. Midday Tuesday isn’t necessarily a big movie time, so it helps to fill the theater — and boost popcorn and soda sales — at a time when it’s not usually busy.

That means that Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews and other MSNBC and NBC personalities will play the big movie screen in addition to the usual MSNBC cable and satellite stream. MSNBC won’t be in high-definition until the second quarter, but both the channel and Screenvision say the quality will still be high.

“It’ll look great,” MSNBC president Phil Griffin said. “We’re thrilled about it.”

Screenvision was approached by MSNBC last year about carrying the coverage in some of the same theaters that take Screenvision’s preroll video, executive vp exhibitor relations Darryl Schaffer said. Since August 2007, Screenvision has had an alternative programming division that has exhibited New York Mets baseball games, operas and other events live via movie theaters. Schaffer said that Screenvision had the capability to do as many as 200 locations, though MSNBC was looking for a smaller event than that.

For MSNBC, it’s a chance to continue the momentum that vaulted it into the fastest-growing channel in all of cable in 2008. That’s the strategy, and Griffin said Monday afternoon to expect more in 2009 to build MSNBC’s brand.

“We want to reach people we’ve never reached before,” Griffin said. “We’re going to do numerous things like that to get our name out there. Ubiquity is the name of the game in 2009.”
Obama inauguration to air in theaters
MSNBC pact puts coverage in 27 U.S. locations

By Paul J. Gough

Jan 12, 2009, 07:15 PM ET
Related
Obama celebration comes together
NEW YORK — President-elect Barack Obama is on his way to the big screen, thanks to a deal between MSNBC and Screenvision that will put the news channel’s inaugural coverage in 27 theaters around the country.

Free tickets are being handed out via MSNBC.com to see the inauguration and parade from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET at the 27 theaters run by 11 exhibitor partners in 21 markets. Midday Tuesday isn’t necessarily a big movie time, so it helps to fill the theater — and boost popcorn and soda sales — at a time when it’s not usually busy.

That means that Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews and other MSNBC and NBC personalities will play the big movie screen in addition to the usual MSNBC cable and satellite stream. MSNBC won’t be in high-definition until the second quarter, but both the channel and Screenvision say the quality will still be high.

“It’ll look great,” MSNBC president Phil Griffin said. “We’re thrilled about it.”

Screenvision was approached by MSNBC last year about carrying the coverage in some of the same theaters that take Screenvision’s preroll video, executive vp exhibitor relations Darryl Schaffer said. Since August 2007, Screenvision has had an alternative programming division that has exhibited New York Mets baseball games, operas and other events live via movie theaters. Schaffer said that Screenvision had the capability to do as many as 200 locations, though MSNBC was looking for a smaller event than that.

For MSNBC, it’s a chance to continue the momentum that vaulted it into the fastest-growing channel in all of cable in 2008. That’s the strategy, and Griffin said Monday afternoon to expect more in 2009 to build MSNBC’s brand.

“We want to reach people we’ve never reached before,” Griffin said. “We’re going to do numerous things like that to get our name out there. Ubiquity is the name of the game in 2009.”

Box Office Resists Recession Just Like During the Depression

Box office resists recession
Ticket sales for year hit $9.63 billion
By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

The record-breaking 2008 domestic box office proves Hollywood isn’t as dependent on by-the-book franchises as everyone feared.

It will also be remembered for prospering even as the economy collapsed.

Ticket sales for the year — Jan. 2, 2008, through Jan. 1, 2009 — clocked in at $9.63 billion, ahead of the $9.62 billion earned in 2007. Admissions were down roughly 4%, far less than declines in other sectors of the economy.

Warner Bros. led the pack, posting B.O. revs of $1.77 billion, the best ever for any studio. Paramount followed at 1.58 billion.

Heading into 2008, studios were worried they wouldn’t be able to replicate the success enjoyed in 2007, when franchises (“Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Shrek,” “Harry Potter,” “Spider-Man“) dominated the marquee.

The range and breadth of 2008 titles that ended up working — including the most successful crop of female pics in history — impressed even the most cynical studio execs.

No one imagined that Warner’s Batman sequel “The Dark Knight” would become the most successful superhero title of all time hands down, or that Paramount and Marvel Entertainment’s Robert Downey Jr. starrer “Iron Man” would turn into an instant franchise.

The Christmas sesh saw a number of films do well, even if the marquee seemed too crowded heading into the holiday.

All told, 24 titles grossed north of $100 million in 2008, nearly as many as in 2007.

Studio tallies

The six major studios have varied stories to tell in terms of market share, but all matched or bettered their 2007 box office results.

Each jumped the $1 billion mark in ticket sales. Combined, the majors released 148 pics vs. 160 in 2007.

Keep in mind: Market share is not a measure of profitability.

Warner Bros.’ 2008 box office haul of $1.77 billion was fueled by Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” — the No. 2 top grosser of all time after “Titanic” — and the unexpectedly strong showing of inherited New Line titles. Warner’s share of the market was an impressive 18.4%.

“This is the most phenomenal year that you could wish for,” said Warners prexy of distribution Dan Fellman, adding that WB has exceeded $1 billion in B.O. revs for eight years in a row.

“Dark Knight” smashed a number of records, including best opening day ($67.7 million) and opening weekend ($158.4 million).

Of Warner’s top five domestic releases, three were from New Line — “Sex and the City” ($152.6 million), “Four Christmases” ($115.4 million) and “Journey to the Center of the Earth” ($101.7 million).

Studio also had the costliest misfire of the year: “Speed Racer.”

Without New Line’s titles, Warners would have topped out at roughly $1.32 billion, behind the $1.42 billion earned at the box office in 2007.

Studios can calculate the year in a variety of ways. Some go strictly by the calendar year; others include the first weekend of January.

Paramount clearly had a great year, including the successful release of David Fincher’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” Studio claimed a hefty 16.4% of the 2008 marketplace, with ticket sales totaling $1.58 billion, ahead of the $1.49 billion earned in 2007.

Of the year’s top 10 pics, Par laid claim to four — “Iron Man” ($318.3 million), “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” ($317 million) and two DreamWorks Animation pics, “Kung Fu Panda” ($215.4 million) and “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” ($176 million).

“Iron Man” and “Panda” are among the new film franchises born in 2008. Others include “Sex and the City,” “Twilight” and “Get Smart.”

The Paramount marriage with DreamWorks proper continued to flourish at the box office, even while the two parties worked out the terms of their divorce. August comedy “Tropic Thunder” cumed $110.5 million, while thriller “Eagle Eye” grossed north of $101.3 million.

Par’s biggest downer of the year: “The Love Guru.”

Sony and Universal came in slightly ahead of 2007 levels, with U breaking records for the second year in a row.

Sony’s B.O. revs were $1.26 billion, or 13.1% of the market, led by Will Smith tentpole “Hancock” ($221.1 million) and followed by Bond installment “Quantum of Solace” ($165.7 million), a co-production with MGM.

Studio’s biggest disappointment is likely “Seven Pounds,” the Christmas drama starring Smith that grossed $50 million through Jan. 1, well below Smith’s usual showing.

Modestly budgeted comedies brought Sony good returns throughout the year, including “Step Brothers” ($100.5 million), “Pineapple Express” ($87.3 million) and “The House Bunny” ($48.2 million), while the bigger budgeted “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” continued Adam Sandler’s winning B.O. track record.

U’s B.O. revenues were $1.11 billion, slightly ahead of 2007. Internally, Universal goes by the calendar year, which puts the 2008 haul at $1.12 billion. Market share is 11.5%.

Studio says 2008 proved the studio’s ability under the leadership of chair Marc Shmuger and co-chair David Linde to consistently deliver quality commercial hits.

“To have two successive years of record-breaking success is an incredible achievement,” the two said in a press release.

Breakout international blockbuster “Mamma Mia!” was U’s top grosser domestically ($143.8 million), followed by franchise relaunch “The Incredible Hulk” ($134.5 million), “Wanted” ($134.3 million”) and returning franchise entry “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” ($102.3 million).

And like Sony, U enjoyed a successful run with modestly budgeted comedies, including “Baby Mama” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”

Fox’s B.O. revs reached $1.23 billion in 2008, putting it at No. 4 in terms of market share. Fox’s kitty includes Searchlight titles, whose take was north of $212 million. If those are deducted, Fox is No. 5 in market share.

Studio ended the year on a high note with breakout Christmas hit “Marley and Me,” another victory for Fox 2000, which made the pic with New Regency.

But Fox had an uncharacteristically tough summer. Sesh started off strong with “What Happens in Vegas” ($80.3 million), while M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Happening” grossed $64.5 million. Things went south from there, however, with Eddie Murphy family pic “Meet Dave” cuming just $11.8 million, while “X-Files: I Want to Believe” mustered only $21 million.

Studio’s top release of the year was “Horton Hears a Who” ($154.5 million), although “Marley” could surpass that by the end of its run.

Other strong performers included “Jumper” ($80.2 million) and “27 Dresses” ($76.8 million).

More recently, Baz Luhrmann’s “Australia” came in on the low end of the studio’s expectations domestically, grossing $45.5 million to date. Overseas, where “Australia” made its first major push over the Christmas holidays, pic has already doubled its domestic gross. Pic should finish well north of $125 million abroad.

Disney went from No. 3 in 2007 to No. 6 in 2008, posting $1.01 billion in ticket sales, or 10.5% of the market. Pixar/Disney title “Wall-E” was the top grosser ($223.7 million).

“Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” ($141.6 million) was the No. 2 earner, but the film’s box office performance fell short of studio’s expectations. Recently, the Mouse House announced it is giving up the Walden Media franchise. (Fox is a likely candidate to partner on “Narnia.”)

Disney may have ended the year last in terms of market share, but it broke new ground in 2008 with 3-D concert pic “Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour” and bigscreen adaptation “High School Musical 3: Senior Year,” both of which had enormous built-in fanbases.

Produced for roughly $7 million, “Hannah Montana” grossed $65.3 million during a three-week run. “High School Musical” grossed $90 million.

Disney ended the year on a high note with Sandler comedy “Bedtime Stories” and “Bolt.”

Among independent studios, Lionsgate led the pack, posting B.O. revs of $438.2 million, well ahead of the $368.1 million earned in 2007. Studio released 19 titles vs. 17 the year before.

Summit came in next thanks to “Twilight” ($176.8 million), which has contributed the lion’s share of Summit’s $225.6 million in ticket sales.

MGM’s total B.O. revs were $164.4 million in 2008, including the Christmas release of United Artists’ Tom Cruise starrer “Valkyrie.” MGM earned $125.9 million in 2007.

Overture saw B.O. revs of $103 million in 2008, led by “Righteous Kill” ($40 million) and “Traitor” ($23.5 million). Studio’s specialty releases included “The Visitor” and “Last Chance Harvey.”

3D Monsters vs. Aliens Trailer to Air During Super Bowl

by Erik Davis Jan 4th 2009 // 12:02PM

Filed under: Animation, Fandom, Exhibition, Newsstand, Home Entertainment, Movie Marketing

During the Chargers vs. Colts playoff game yesterday, NBC was airing commercials advertising a 3D trailer for the movie Monsters vs. Aliens (first of its kind?), which will also coincide with the airing of a full episode of the TV show Chuck in 3D. The trailer will arrive at the end of the 2nd quarter of the Superbowl, and yes — you’ll have to pick up a pair of 3D glasses to watch it. Apparently, these 3D glasses — which will be just like the ones you wore growing up, with one side red and the other blue, will be available at select Pepsi and Sobe kiosks leading up to the big game. No word on where these special kiosks are located, but I’m sure there will be a formal announcement and/or a website with exact details coming very soon.

Is it a fun gimmick that’ll give folks something to look forward to during the Superbowl? Yes, definitely. People like little things like this, especially the ones who have kids and host big game day parties. But does it show the world how far we’ve come in the advancement of 3D technology? Not really. These will probably be the same glasses I wore to watch 1991’s Nightmare on Elm Street 6. Then again, maybe it’s about getting people used to the idea of 3D again — bringing it into their homes, seeing how far they’ll go to buy the glasses on their own, etc … What do you think? Is this something we should be excited about?

Mark Cuban Buys a Stake in Out of Home Media

Coming on the heels of an announcement that the upcoming NBA All Star Game will be aired in 3-D on movie screens across the country, Mark Cuban has taken a greater interest in the cinema industry. Cuban sees great potential for the movie theater market, undoubtedly stoked by the endless opportunities for bringing major live events to the big screen.

Internet/media mogul and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has accumulated a 9.4% stake in Carmike Cinemas (CKEK), the no. 4 U.S. movie chain. Why? Think less Sunday matinée, more 3D NBA All-Star games.

Cuban, reached by email, declined to comment specifically on his investment. But he gave us a clue as to why he is betting roughly $3 million in what’s supposed to be a declining industry. (He also co-owns Landmark Theatres with Todd Wagner.) Cuban, via email:

“What i can say is that I think Out of Home entertainment is becoming about far more than movies. HDNet was the first to do a live 3D broadcast to a theater, and we will continuing trying to expand that business, along with 2D out of home. Bits are bits, and just like you can make them smaller, you can make them a lot bigger and more interesting.”

What does that mean? Probably more events like the NBA All-Star game, which will be broadcast in 3D to 160 theater screens in the U.S. on Feb. 14, 2009, including some Carmike theaters.

This makes sense. While there’s plenty of movies that are nice to watch on a 50-inch HDTV at home, there’s still nothing like projecting video on a screen the size of a house. We’d happily pay money and travel to see stuff like “Planet Earth” or some out-of-town concerts/playoff games in a movie theater, for instance. (Especially if there is a bar on premises.)

And while we’re at it, how about some more interactive use cases? Maybe a Nintendo Wii bowling competition on a 100-foot screen? (via: Silicon Alley Insider)

Interactivity in movie theaters….hhhhmmmm. There are a number of companies that are poised to grab a chunk of this market (Brand Experience Lab, Snaptell, Locamoda, MegaPhone).

From gesture-based interactivity (Advergames) to linking mobile phones and cinema screens, I promise that movie theaters will be a major venue for this type of experiential marketing.

Mark Cuban

Network TV Audience Continues to Erode by Double Digits

TV Watch
Wayne Friedman
www.mediapost.com

In just the last two years, 25% of network TV’s prime-time viewers have departed, and, odds are, they aren’t coming back. At the same time TV program costs have skyrocketed.

Wonder why NBC is going with Leno every day at 10 p.m.?

The future of network TV is actually the future of TV syndication. There’s good news there: “Wheel of Fortune,” “Jeopardy” and “Oprah Winfrey” have been on the air for just about three decades each. So network TV has a lot to look forward to: plenty of constancy, but also plenty of boredom.

Network TV is not turning to cable or to the Internet for its near-term financial model. The new digital TV world isn’t growing fast enough for NBC’s Jeff Zucker. Those digital pennies he talks about will still be digital pennies — and not TV dollars — for quite some time.

The cable model?  Network TV stations have yet to garner that full-scale dual revenue stream the cable networks have — although CBS‘ Les Moonves says retransmission fees are making some inroads.

New TV estimates say prime time will see a major contraction in advertising dollars — some 7% to 8% overall — this year. At last year’s $9.2 billion dollar upfront broadcast prime-time level, that could come to a disappearance of some $732 million dollars.

Where will those dollars go? To YouTube, Canoe Ventures, Screenvision, MobiTV, ESPN, or CBS Television Distribution?

The big slap on the head comes from the fact that even former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan says he blew it by letting the nation’s banking system go fairly unregulated over the last few decades. The bigger slap was that virtually no one saw this coming.

Many have made entire careers out of predicting network television’s demise — or if not the medium itself, then its upfront advertising process. Yet TV advertisers continue to grumble but move in predictable fashion.  Where else can anyone go but network TV? Stick with what still has scale and efficiency, say media analysts.

But someday that scale may not be scale. If erosion of network TV viewership continues its double-digit percentage pace, this becomes just an easy math problem.