Want to watch the IPL matches on the big screen in air-conditioned halls? Here’s your chance to watch the tournament in the luxurious environs of a cinema hall.UFO Movies, the pioneers of digital satellite cinema technology, will show matches of the Indian Premier League 2010 live across theatres in the country, with the two semi-finals and the final to be shown in 3-D in Mumbai, the company said on February 9.
The matches would be beamed to the theatres digitally over satellite. They will be screened in high-definition digital format without any commercial interruptions between overs, making it a better experience than watching the game on television at home, UFO Movies India Ltd Strategic Advisor, Charuhas Satam, told a press conference.
He said UFO which has more than 1,700 digital screens across India and has tied up with Crown Infotainment who holds the distribution rights for IPL 2010 to introduce IPL matches in theatres. So far, 516 screens in 358 cities have been finalised, including 364 single screen theatres and 152 multiplexes. UFO has plans to reach out to 1000 screens in all.
UFO has entered into a strategic alliance with multiplex chains like Cinemax, INOX, Fame and PVR, among others, for screening the matches, he elaborated.
“To provide unique entertainment value and keep the IPL magic alive, a carnival and a stadium-like atmosphere will be created across select screens. The theatres will have cricket related merchandise, gifts, food stalls, and some screens will have cheerleaders and live bands,'' Satam said.
Commercials would be shown only at the beginning, during the two strategic breaks after the first ten overs of either inning, during lunch break, and finally after the match ends till the prize distribution ceremony begins, he said.Satam said the participating theatres will work out the ticket rates and packages, if any.
“The gross revenue from ticket sales will be shared equally by UFO and the theatre. UFO will keep the revenue from advertising, and will also bear the expenditure for the additional facilities like merchandise and cheerleaders,” he said.The two semi-finals and the final match will be shown in 3-D to enhance the experience in 50 theatres in Mumbai, Satam said, adding they hoped to show the matches in 3-D in 300 to 400 theatres in the country next year.
