EXCLUSIVE: Vue cinemas in negotiations for 3D coverage of Olympics and Euro football championships; other chains likely to follow suit with Olympics coverage potentially shown for free.
A number of leading UK cinema chains will screen events from the Summer Olympic Games 2012.
Vue Entertinment CEO Tim Richards told Screen that the exhibitor is likely to screen the Games and is now pushing for 3D coverage of the event: “It looks like we are going to be screening the Olympics, which is very exciting. Now we’re working on the 3D side of it. It’s looking very encouraging.”
Vue is hoping to screen coverage every day: “Our goal is to try and get something on every day. It is still in discussion but looking very encouraging.”
Screen understands from industry sources that other major chains are also likely to follow suit. Odeon and Cineworld declined to comment.
The BBC bought the UK broadcasting rights to the Games from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with cinemas likely to be negotiating a feed with the BBC and the Olympic Broadcasting Service, which will shoot most of the event’s 3D footage.
As it is illegal to charge the public to watch third-party screenings of live BBC sports feeds it is understood that some cinemas could screen events largely free of charge.
The Summer Olympic Games will take place July 27-August 12. 27
A number of large outdoor screens will show the Games across the UK. The BBC, Japanese broadcaster NHK, OBS and Janet UK are teaming on four Super Hi Vision 8k screens with 22.2 surround sound format.
Vue also told Screen that it hopes to screen coverage of summer football tournament Euro 2012 and events surrounding the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
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