Cinema Distribution - How Does It Work?

What is cinema distribution? Well, to put it simply, cinema distribution is the actual process of bringing a movie to the market for viewing by an intended audience. This typically is the responsibility of an expert cinema distributor, who would then decide the overall marketing plan for the movie.

There are many different kinds of cinema distribution - conventional film distribution, digital cinema distribution (DCD), hyper local online distribution (HPLD), and online only cinema distribution (OVSD). Most distributors offer all three and some even offer both. It is usually up to the distributor which format they feel most comfortable with, although some will choose one over the other based on the demographics of their consumer base.

One of the main issues when considering which type of cinema distribution to pursue is location. If the target audience for the movie is local, then the content and delivery method chosen would be local. For example, if the movie has to be delivered to the cinema, it is likely going to be in the form of analog TV broadcast or VHF satellite broadcast. Satellite is considered the better option because it gives the audience the best chance to see the movie in its original aspect, as well as with the best sound.

Another important factor is the size of the budget. Obviously, the bigger the budget, the larger the budget must be in order to distribute that. The size of the distributor's inventory also has an impact on the cinema distribution strategy, as well as their ability to achieve any given ratio of ticket sales to distribution cost. Finding a distributor with a large enough inventory is especially important if the distributor will be looking to break even or make a profit at the end of the showing season.

A theatre chain is also a good source for acquiring cinema distribution. It is possible to acquire theatre screens and movie stocks from such companies. This provides for a low-cost distribution solution for a theatre chain. The advantages of using such an entity are primarily financial: by selling screens, seats and popcorn, a theatre chain can make back its investments in less time than it would have been possible to do individually. However, the disadvantages of this strategy include lower profits per screen and fewer features available due to the mass manufacturing of products.

Distribution of films by a multiple distribution company allows multiple theatres to show the same movie to a wider range of audiences. A movie theatre chain with multiple locations is an example of this. If a distributor only has one screen showing a particular film, it is not feasible to show that film to a wide audience. Multiple distributor firms offer distribution services for movies, music, television and digital media. However, with each distributor, comes added responsibilities and costs. This means that it is crucial to choose a suitable company that will give the best service possible, and give a reasonable return on investment.