LocateTV Blog

For some, cinema is the only way to really appreciate a movie. Whether it’s the massive screen, the audience atmosphere, the sense of occasion or just the stale popcorn, the box office is still big business.

However, the very popularity of LocateTV is a reflection that people are less willing to be bound by the unreliable, selective schedules and increasing prices of cinemas. We’re ncreasingly accustomed to consuming films on TV, online, and on DVD, especially when we can easily find when and where they’re on and design personalised viewing schedules to suit us. The British Film Institute states that ‘from 1988 to 1998, world cinema audiences declined by 79%’, a trend compounded by the increasing speed with which DVDs are released by studios eager to cash in on this lucrative market.

Another factor is the advance in technology for home viewers, such as the new Headplay Personal Cinema Sytem which offers a 3D visor compatible with most multimedia kit for that full home cinema experience. A quick browse of forums such as Satellite Help, AV Forums or Digital Spy gives an instant insight into the number of members who are rigged out with incredibly sophisticated systems.

Many feel that cinemas have lost their way, driven by fear and profit to only show the most mainstream crowd-pleasing mush and derivative sequels and prequels, and that the more interesting content is only really accessible on TV, the net and DVD. But going to the movies still exerts a strong cultural pull. Will cinema survive our new viewing habits - and how will it have to change? Will LocateTV help contribute to the spurning of the silver screen?

Lottie