#Movies in theaters now activation code
#Movies in theaters now portable
#Movies in theaters now download

Distributors simply author a file, fire it out over their satellite connection for their respective exhibitors to download (or stream if its live content: hence satellite and not unpredictable fibre/internet connections) and deal with any potential problems through modifying the coding which is in itself rare. With the exception of implementation (which usually consists of a satellite receiver and something called a ), this type of distribution entirely cuts out the cost of getting the content to cinemas. Why? because, comparitively, it costs pittance. Here's the hook: almost every advertisement content company in the world is moving not only in the direction of digital content, but they're universally moving towards satellite. They're a guaranteed revenue stream that will double the best possible B/O of any film, they're value increases proportionately to box office takings: they (sadly) represent the backbone of modern cinema.

They don't rely on word of mouth, critical acclaim or any amount of audience reception.

and that is, most importantly, guaranteed.Īdverts don't need to be good infact, they're often awful. Advertisement, by comparison? for a modest 5 screen art house cinema, you're looking at an annual income of about £200K ($300K). so if a film has legs for a month and its returns are inevitably diminishing week by week, we're looking at a best case scenario of £70k ($100,000 dollars): and let me stress this would be an absolute wet dream for a cinema to make these numbers on a single film. To take this quarters tentpole ( Avengers:Age of Ultron) as an example Ī 12 screen MP may take an optimistic BO:W/E of £36k (approx $55). To explain: a single multiplex may have an opening weekend for a particular film that takes a significant box office. It's the worst kept secret of most cinemas that the most lucrative single-income source is the adverts that are exhibited before a feature. Even now, many distributors are promoting their ease of use as leverage to persuade developers to pursue satellite distribution as it reduces the overheads dramatically.Īs with many instances of private enterprise, the real driving force behind satellite distribution is the revenue stream it creates, and the relative immediacy of this income.

The legacy of these projects will not, however, come from their content but by their method of distribution. Whilst they do broadcast globally, they remain a minority interest for exhibitors (although a growing one, due to their success). This is a method that has been spearheaded in the UK by such projects as National Theatre Live and Opera Live. Under satellite systems, the film is literally downloaded from a secure server and the film is activated for use via satellite projectors can even be controlled remotely through the satellite, which centralizes the entire process externally. Increasingly, satellite technology is being explored in order to reduce the cost of distribution (which has already more than halved in the past 10 years). Some cinemas have a licence retainer, or master licence for content.īecause most multiplex cinemas are part of an exhibition chain, they are typically less vigilant in safeguarding their content, and will handle the management of their content internally, negating such stringent protection.

#Movies in theaters now activation code

The DCP is signed for by the cinema, and then the projectionist is given the licence activation code to allow the content to be played.

#Movies in theaters now portable

A slightly more old fashioned variation of this is large portable hard-drives, but these are being phased out of circulation too.Ī DCP is simply a file that requires activation from a licence. It improves accountability on behalf of cinema-pirates, as each Pen has a certain number of licences on it. Many cinemas use a system called DCP which is literally a USB pen that gets shipped around inside a case. The rest of the world is moving in exactly the same direction, but with different levels of immersion in the cinematic process. It is usually measured as an experiment, and just as the introduction of sound, colour and 3D cinemas required refits and refurbishment, this is now happening with digital distribution. Due to its cinematic heritage and relative size, the UK is almost always used as the 'control' in rolling out cinematic technologies. Digital projectors have been industry standard since 2005 in the UK, but much earlier in America and China. In early 2002, Hollywood sought to standardize this technology for the incredible advantages it possessed. Modern cinema, by which I mean the industry that distributes and exhibits mainstream content (so any new releases), are exclusively distributed in digital format. Whilst there are some cinemas that still retain use of 35mm projectors, it's fair to say that these are only used for special events.