NCM Executes Key Acquisition as the First Step in its New Digital
Strategy
CENTENNIAL, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
National CineMedia (NASDAQ: NCMI), America's Movie Network, has
completed its acquisition of Fantasy
Movie League (FML), the box office predictions game that
combines the fierce competition of fantasy sports with the insanely
popular world of entertainment and movies. It marks the company's first
acquisition as a key part of its new focus on consumer digital products
for movie audiences.
To introduce a new audience of more than 750 million moviegoers a year
to the game, Fantasy Movie League will be regularly featured in
NCM's new
Noovie cinema pre-show, launching at the end of September. It
will be seen on over 20,500 screens in over 1,600 theaters nationwide,
including AMC, Cinemark, Regal Entertainment Group and over 45 other
leading theater circuits.
"This is the first step in NCM's new digital strategy, allowing us to
reach not just moviegoers in the theater, but movie audiences on all
screens everywhere," said NCM's Chief Digital Officer & SVP of Corporate
Development, Lawrence Snapp. "To put it in movie industry terms, we will
use the big screen as the trailer for the digital experience, driving
audiences from our new Noovie pre-show to NCM's digital
properties like Fantasy Movie League and then back to the theater
to catch the next big movie. There's a real synergy between screens of
all sizes when it comes to reaching movie audiences, and our goal is to
create compelling consumer experiences for movie fans."
As part of the acquisition, Fantasy Movie League co-founders Eric
LaVanchy and Larry Tobin have joined NCM's growing Digital Products
team, both in the role of general manager of Digital Gaming. Reporting
to Snapp, they will be based in Los Angeles and will oversee the growth
of Fantasy Movie League as well as development of new compelling
online consumer games for NCM.
LaVanchy and Tobin are both leaders in digital and mobile gaming with a
long track record of success. Eric LaVanchy has developed more than 100
interactive games for sports, media and consumer brands including
Anheuser-Busch, MTV, the NBA, the NFL Players Association, the NHL, and
Sony, and is also named on a patent for affinity-based multiplayer
gaming in partnership with Electronic Arts. Larry Tobin has led the
strategy, development and maintenance of online and mobile gaming
services for major media portals and sports leagues for nearly two
decades, including Yahoo!, FOX Sports Interactive, the NHL and AT&T.
FML Co-creator and ESPN Senior Fantasy Analyst Matthew Berry will remain
actively involved in Fantasy Movie Leagueas a consultant and
evangelist.
Fantasy Movie League (FML) is all about predicting the box
office. It's easy to play but challenging to master. Movie fans can play
for free by downloading the iOS app or visiting www.fantasymovieleague.com
to set up their own private league with co-workers, friends and family,
or play in public leagues against anyone. Players become virtual theater
owners and select which movies to show that weekend to earn the biggest
box office. Winners can score great prizes every week, ranging from
movie gift certificates, to T-Shirts, to premiere tickets and other
special prizes from movie studio partners. Whether it's studying the
upcoming film slate, watching FML's advice shows, listening to the FML
podcast, setting their line-ups, or checking the final results every
Monday, fans engage with the game all week long.
"Fantasy sports are hugely popular, and Americans love movies even more
than sports," said NCM Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue
Officer, Scott Felenstein. "There are over 210 million people in the
U.S. who self-identify as movie fans, which is more than the NFL, NBA,
NHL, Major League Baseball and NASCAR combined! Plus, FML attracts a
younger, more gender-balanced audience than traditional fantasy sports,
and its players are more brand aware, brand loyal, and three times more
engaged. Fantasy Movie League allows fans to interact with the
world of Hollywood like nothing else, which makes for a truly compelling
brand extension beyond the big screen."
About National CineMedia (NCM)
National CineMedia (NCM) is America's Movie Network. As the #1
Millennial weekend network in the U.S., NCM is the connector between
brands and movie audiences. According to Nielsen, more than 750 million
moviegoers annually attend theaters that are currently under contract to
present NCM's pre-show in over 45 leading national and regional theater
circuits including AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark
Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC).
NCM's cinema advertising network offers broad reach and unparalleled
audience engagement with over 20,500 screens in over 1,600 theaters in
187 Designated Market Areas® (all of the top 50). NCM Digital goes
beyond the big screen, extending in-theater campaigns into online and
mobile marketing programs to reach entertainment audiences. National
CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI) owns a 39.3% interest in, and is the
managing member of, National CineMedia, LLC. For more information, visit www.ncm.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170731005646/en/
National CineMedia
Amy Jane Finnerty, 212-931-8117
amy.finnerty@ncm.com
Source: National CineMedia
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