R.I.P. – Movie Time Listings in Newspapers

Posted by Dr. Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on September 6, 2009

NewspapersStillExistApparently

I realize that none of you have even heard of newspapers before, but the simple fact is that they’ve been around for a couple of decades serving a greater purpose for humanity by allowing them to play the Jumble everyday and occasionally providing information regarding the happenings of the world around us.

But newspapers will no longer carry any information regarding when you should head down to your local theater for a screening of the weekend’s new releases.

According to several news sources including Variety, the major cinema corps have decided to whittle down their ad placement in newspapers, another crushing blow to an information delivery method you didn’t even realize existed. Regal and AMC have already sung a similar tune that they see little benefit to paying the (small) fee to have movie times appear in print because most people are getting that information online and over the phone. In not paying the fee, they are also helping themselves on the back end by increasing traffic to their websites from fans needing accurate starting times.

Traditionally, marketing companies for specific movies will purchase ads in newspapers while the theater chain would be responsible for purchasing space for the show times. Apparently, no longer.

This should come as little surprise to anyone who has been paying attention to the newspaper world’s woes over the past three years. The question is whether subscribers would stop taking the paper over it. I realize that a lot of people like the listings for shows and concerts and art openings and cheese tastings and all that, but I don’t think the newspapers will lose much from his except the small amount in revenue they were taking in from it in the first place. Still, it might not seem like much, but the profession is already strapped for cash.

I assume without these listings, everyone will have to do what I do: keep Mr. Moviefone tied up in my basement.

What do you think?

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Peter Donohue

That's where Moviefone is! I've been forced to listen to Kramer try it for days now!

djjeffhall

Wow, we really are in the 21st Century aren't we?

I'll grant that I rarely, if ever, use a newspaper for showtimes anymore. Since I started listening to Fat Guys At The Movies I find myself checking showtimes on line while listening to the podcast.

Before that (A mere two years ago?) I looked forward to the Friday paper. The reviews and the full color splash ads were my main source.

I'll grant that I really don't miss having to clean the ink residue off my fingers, and my trips to the recycling are easier on my back without the extra weight. Nevertheless, it's a bit frightening how quickly and how far the world has changed.

I'm not sure I'll miss those ads, but it is sad to think that they are now nostagalia instead of fact.

roberttaylor

This is perfect! Now I don't have to deal with old people at my theater that cough, can't understand what's happening in the movie, and kick the back of my seat! As far as they're concerned, there are simply no more movies playing. Yay!

R.I.P. – Movie Time Listings in Newspapers

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