TV on The Big Screen

TV Shows Screening on the Big Screen

Hit TV shows have sporadically been screened at cinemas in an effort to experiment with the public's taste for TV on the big screen.  This experiment will get a bigger testing in 2017 as more TV shows will be featured on cinema marquees. TV is currently enjoying a surge in content prestige. TV shows have major star power and production budgets that equal those of major motion pictures.

CMG has been an advocate of cinemas screening popular TV shows for some time. I believe it is a terrific way to get consumers out of their homes to view their favorite shows on the big screen. It also allows TV companies to build hype for new shows and stand-out against the multitude of content being aired or streamed on the small screen.

A perfect example of this trend is the deal recently struck between Imax Corp. and Marvel TV and ABC to screen the upcoming superhero series 'Inhumans' before it appears on TV. Imax, which essentially screens blockbusters from the major studios, often finds itself with gaps in its playlist which can be filled with quality made for TV productions.

Cinemas have been screening alternative content for years: opera, soccer, concerts, etc., it is now time to introduce TV shows. Episodes of 'Game of Thrones', 'Doctor Who', and 'Sherlock' have screened at cinemas to very good grosses.  The plus in all of this is that there is so much quality TV content available that every cinema can select shows that satisfy their audiences.

Many TV shows have rabid fan bases numbering in the millions which generate huge social media buzz - this translates into a big win for cinemas. Conversely, intro'ing a TV show at a cinema generates big buzz for the show before it airs or streams on the small screen.

All cinemas should be working on a TV strategy.  I believe this to be a big winner for cinemas and an easy way to get more patrons into theaters.