General Cinema and MovieFone Announce Exclusive Ticketing Partnership

Strategic Insights -

General Cinema Theatres and MovieFone have partnered to provide customers with the ability to buy advance tickets over MovieFone and its online sister service, MovieLink. The agreement covers 269 of General Cinema's highest-volume screens across seven major markets. This partnership aims to increase convenience for moviegoers by allowing them to input 3-digit theater-specific "Express Codes" for instant access to their preferred theater.

Key Takeaways:

  • General Cinema and MovieFone have entered into an exclusive agreement to provide advance ticketing services to General Cinema patrons.
  • The partnership covers 269 screens across seven major markets: Boston, New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis.
  • General Cinema's Senior Vice President, Operations, Frank Stryjewski, emphasized the importance of providing convenient moviegoing experiences for patrons.
  • MovieFone is providing General Cinema with a "Private-Label" version of MovieLink for the General Cinema website.
  • The partnership aims to improve moviegoer convenience and customer satisfaction by providing instant access to showtimes, additional information, and multimedia for movies playing at participating theaters.
  • General Cinema hosts over 60 million guests annually and generates revenues in excess of $440 million.
  • MovieFone has received over 300 million calls and logged over 25 million online users, covering 13,600 screens that account for 65% of the nation's movie attendance.

Statistics:

  • 269 screens are covered under the partnership across seven major markets.
  • General Cinema hosts over 60 million guests annually.
  • The company generates revenues in excess of $440 million.
  • MovieFone has received over 300 million calls.
  • The company has logged over 25 million online users.
  • MovieFone covers 13,600 screens, accounting for 65% of the nation's movie attendance.
  • General Cinema is a division of GC Companies, Inc. (NYSE: GCX) and is one of the largest motion picture exhibitors in the U.S., with nearly 1,200 screens at 175 theaters in 24 states.

Sources:

  • "General Cinema Theatres and MovieFone Announce Exclusive Ticketing Partnership" by Business Wire (May 4, 1998)
  • General Cinema Theatres, Inc. press release (May 4, 1998)
  • MovieFone, Inc. information page (no date)