Previews: Why Some Cinemas & Not Others In Same Chain?

[Ms Thrifty]

Does anyone know who or what determines which cinemas in a chain (e.g. Cineworld, Odeon, Vue etc) have previews? It seems quite normal for some previews to be more limited within a chain whereas others will be at all the usual suspects, but some cinemas just never have them. I'm not talking about the independents, obviously, but why, for instance, would a large multiplex just never feature on the lists?

[Preston1990]

That's a good question Ms Thrifty and one which I have wondered about too. I must admit however that I don't know the answer to it though.

In a similar vein, I couldn't understand the apparent reluctance for some of the cinemas named in the recent Express newspaper promotion last week to partake in the free screenings. I would have thought most free screenings (with the possible exception of "funny people" ) would actually raise the overall level of cinema attendance through generating free promotion via recommendations to friends/colleagues etc.

Surely that would be a good thing for all cinemas.

[mattgad]

I live in Sheffield part time, where there are a lot of screenings. I'm now back in my home town, Gloucester, where I've never ever seen a code for a screening here. Or at Cheltenham. These cinemas as just as big/popular as some of the Sheffield cinemas. I can't really understand this either. Free screenings and advertising here would give it a big boost.

[platini_ng]

I guess it depends on any excess capacity of cinemas, both staff and showing time.

Also, whether showing in that particular cinema would promote the movie.

[farai]

I guess it depends on any excess capacity of cinemas, both staff and showing time.

Also, whether showing in that particular cinema would promote the movie.

i agree with you

[owichmann]

hmm there must be an answer to this - anyone know anyone who works in cinema PR?
I used to work in production and never got involved in promotion.

[Ms Thrifty]

I wondered if phunkygal might know something about this as she has a wide knowledge of all things film-related. But given some of the locations which don't get previews (including those mentioned above), it looks to me as though it might be those where there is little or no competition locally from other cinemas. So maybe the theory is that even if there are no previews, people will have no choice about where to see the film, so why lose good p*ying business? Of course, having previews at locations where there is competition still isn't that good for business, as the only benefit to the cinema then is in sales of food and drink.

[gismo1554]

I've never understood which ones they choose. I've seen films in my local Cineworld, Cardiff Cineworld, Cwmbran Vue, Cardiff Vue and Cardiff Odeon. There doesn't seem any pattern in which cinema they do

[elski]

what also seems a bit random is even out of the usual list of cinemas they don't always appear on a screenings list

[alpa]

, it looks to me as though it might be those where there is little or no competition locally from other cinemas. So maybe the theory is that even if there are no previews, people will have no choice about where to see the film, so why lose good p*ying business?

I'd say this is probably why. It's like having a screening on a Wednesday right? your gonna get business anyway so why bother?

I work for marketing and it seems the people who don't use a service get targetted more with promotions to intice them.