With a constant decline in cinema attendance in the last number of years, Cinemas are to start upping the ante by offering punters some serious, if not bizarre extras. A number of cinema chains have spent millions of dollars upgrading their audio / visual systems as well as doing a complete refurbishment with luxurious seating and providing patrons more leg room.
While these upgrades have seen some chains attract more customers, the decline in cinema attendance is still on the slippery downhill slope.
Today the C.O.F.A (Cinema Owners Federation of America) have announced that their members are to offer cinema goers a number of premium extras.
C.O.F.A. CEO and founder Steven Lucas says
C.O.F.A. CEO and founder Steven Lucas says
“Our members have been listening to their customers and after 12 months of intensive surveys and focus groups, we feel premium extras are the way forward. It’s now more difficult to get customers into a cinema as they feel more comfortable at home and of course streaming services have also made it more difficult for all cinemas. Initially these extras will be offered on a pilot basis for 3 months in specific locations, before being rolled out to all of our members nationwide”
Some of the premium extras will include seating with USB ports which will cost an additional $5 “The phone charging is a controversial option” admits C.O.F.A. CEO Steven Lucas. “While we don’t encourage the audience to use their phones during a movie, the fact of the matter is that they do. Much like watching a TV show at home, people chat to their friends about what they’re watching. The upside to this is that whoever they’re texting may come and see the movie at a later date, which is a positive from a business point of view. Offering in seat phone charging provides a better experience for the audience. No longer do they have to worry about running out of battery power”
While it’s a bizarre premium extra, nose plugs are also going to be offered to cinema goers.
When asked Lucas responded “This came out on top of every single piece of research we did. People smell. Not everybody showers every single day. And of course people break wind throughout a 2 hour movie. It’s only natural, however this does cause some discomfort for other audience members. This is why we’re offering nose plugs to those who want them. Again, it’s all about providing a better experience for the audience.”
When asked Lucas responded “This came out on top of every single piece of research we did. People smell. Not everybody showers every single day. And of course people break wind throughout a 2 hour movie. It’s only natural, however this does cause some discomfort for other audience members. This is why we’re offering nose plugs to those who want them. Again, it’s all about providing a better experience for the audience.”
The full list of premium extras are available on the C.O.F.A. website. Click here to view them.
