Canada's Olympic Broadcasters To Air Games In HD At 64 Theaters

Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium's (COBMC) 17-day coverage of the Vancouver Games in February will air live in HD in 64 Cineplex Entertainment theaters throughout Canada. The initiative marks the first time daily coverage of the Olympics will be available for viewing in Canadian movie theaters (COBMC). In Vancouver, Damian Inwood notes people can buy a "passport" to the screenings for all 17 days of coverage for C$29.95, a "fraction of the price of most Vancouver 2010 premium events." COBMC officials said that "on average, each theatre will show 12 hours per day for the 17 days." Inwood notes with "different time zones, there'll be some early and late screenings." Along with the "passports," single-day tickets to the screenings "will go on sale Jan. 15" for C$9.95. COBMC VP/Business Development Dan Cimoroni: "Opening ceremonies and hockey's going to look great on the big screen, but things like aerials and bobsled are going to look incredible too" (Vancouver PROVINCE, 12/10). In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich notes this is Cineplex' "second foray into sports." In '06, it began showing Maple Leafs games on Leafs TV, but those broadcasts were "met with mixed results." Cineplex VP/Communications & Investor Relations Pat Marshall: "The Leafs games did very well when the team was winning. When the Leafs were not as successful on the winning front, the theatres weren't quite as busy" (TORONTO STAR, 12/10).

YOU'VE GOT MAIL: MEDIAPOST's David Goetzl reported California-based Goodmail Systems, a company that weaves streaming video directly into e-mails, is "in discussions with NBC that could result in some live coverage of the Winter Olympics seen instantly when an email is opened." A Goodmail Systems exec "floated a concept in which NBC Sports could send an email alert when a top American skier, say Bode Miller, is about to leave the starting gate." When the message is opened, "Miller's run would be streaming." Goodmail has "run a test with Turner Sports with a recent PGA event," during which Turner "sent emails alerting people that the golf tournament had started; a live feed was available when the message was opened." Goetzl noted the video e-mails are a "potential boon for entertainment companies, both as a marketing vehicle and an opportunity to sell ads around the embedded video." Target and Procter & Gamble are a few of the companies that have "used the videos to promote products and sales" (MEDIAPOST.com, 12/8).