Posted on 01/14/2009 10:28:41 AM PST by upchuck
NEW YORK -- President-elect Barack Obama is on his way to the big screen, thanks to a deal between MSNBC and Screenvision that will put the news channel's inaugural coverage in 27 theaters around the country.
Free tickets are being handed out via MSNBC.com to see the inauguration and parade from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET at the 27 theaters run by 11 exhibitor partners in 21 markets. Midday Tuesday isn't necessarily a big movie time, so it helps to fill the theater -- and boost popcorn and soda sales -- at a time when it's not usually busy.
That means that Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews and other MSNBC and NBC personalities will play the big movie screen in addition to the usual MSNBC cable and satellite stream. MSNBC won't be in high-definition until the second quarter, but both the channel and Screenvision say the quality will still be high.
"It'll look great," MSNBC president Phil Griffin said. "We're thrilled about it."
Screenvision was approached by MSNBC last year about carrying the coverage in some of the same theaters that take Screenvision's preroll video, executive vp exhibitor relations Darryl Schaffer said. Since August 2007, Screenvision has had an alternative programming division that has exhibited New York Mets baseball games, operas and other events live via movie theaters. Schaffer said that Screenvision had the capability to do as many as 200 locations, though MSNBC was looking for a smaller event than that.
For MSNBC, it's a chance to continue the momentum that vaulted it into the fastest-growing channel in all of cable in 2008. That's the strategy, and Griffin said Monday afternoon to expect more in 2009 to build MSNBC's brand.
"We want to reach people we've never reached before," Griffin said. "We're going to do numerous things like that to get our name out there. Ubiquity is the name of the game in 2009."
He knows his audience. Productive citizens are working those hours.
I wonder if newsreels will run in the weeks after instead of movie previews.
People still go to movies?
Is there anything worth seeing?
Out of control. Glad I won’t be watching....
two thumbs down.
Not unless Hussein curses and has hokey pokey with Witchell on stage...
Rated G for intense gullibility.
Who said it couldn't happen in America? It already has....in spades.
I absolutely refuse to watch this. I REFUSE!
So there Networks.
I finally discovered how to cope with this, and rediscovered the OFF-Switch.
now EVERYONE can riot!
They should put some Three Stooges shorts on before the movie to set the mood.
But, it is winter...so all the street people, welfare slackers, and gang members on the corners will grab those free tickets and have somewhere to go and keep warm for a few hours. They will probably trash the theaters while they are there, too. This is getting like the Romans, occupying the masses with entertainment in the coliseums to keep them pacified in some way.
Yet, other sane, other productive Americans will be busy at the office earning money so they can "spread the wealth."
Your screenname says it all.
I may need to leave the country for a few days. At the very least I’ll need to avoid retail establishments with televisions.
Have to be "adult" theaters since they will be showing an a$$hole.
Why would I waste my time watching the Devil (Mr Barack Hussein Obama - BHO) get sworn in to office. Change nothing as it is the 2nd coming of Slick Willie with all of Slick’s people getting put in place.
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