Digital Cinema Media
 | |
| Joint venture | |
| Industry | Cinema Advertising |
| Founded |
Carlton Screen Advertising (1996) Digital Cinema Media (2008) |
| Headquarters | 350 Euston Road, London, United Kingdom |
Key people |
Karen Stacey (Managing Director) |
| Owner |
Cineworld Group plc (50%) Odeon Cinemas Ltd (50%) |
| Website |
www |
Digital Cinema Media is an advertising company, supplying cinema advertisements to the Cineworld, Odeon, and Vue cinema chains. The company was formed in July 2008 and is owned by Cineworld and Odeon equally.
Formation
In 1996, British media company Carlton Communications purchased Rank Screen Advertising from The Rank Group and subsequently renamed the operation as Carlton Screen Advertising. The new company supplied cinema advertising for Odeon, Cineworld as well as ABC and UCI Cinemas prior to their respective takeovers by Odeon. In 1999, cinema operator UGC joined the business following its buyout of Virgin Cinemas. However, its UK business was taken over by Cineworld in 2004.
In July 2008, Cineworld Group plc and Odeon Cinemas Ltd acquired the company as a 50-50 joint venture. Its name was subsequently changed to Digital Cinema Media (DCM) for the company's UK sites; the new look and identity first came into force on October 1, 2008. The Republic of Ireland sites continue to use the Carlton name. A deal signed in 2010 saw all Vue Cinemas sites included in the business from 1 January 2011; this has resulted in the company supplying advertisements for nearly 90% of UK cinemas. In April 2011, DCM changed their on-screen identity for the second time. In September 2012, DCM became the first UK cinema advertising company to 'go digital', though some older cinema sites, mostly those operated by Vue, continue to use standard film.
In January 2013, DCM changed their idents and company logo, and also introduced a brand new strapline - 'Dynamic Advertising'.[1] The old idents were still in use until March.
In January 2014, DCM hosted a College Project in which students have to design a new ident for DCM
Digital advertising
Beginning in 2009, when 3D films began to take a dominating force in the film market, DCM introduced reels produced in 'digital film', which were only used to precede films in 3D at the time. This eliminated such implications as 'cue dots' and graining that had become familiar on standard film. The 'fade to black' function after each advert was also removed, and thus the reel started the next advert immediately after the previous.
Upon the original change of image in April 2011, all reels were produced in digital film for all films at cinema sites that were capable of showing digital film. DCM stopped using standard film in September 2012, and is currently in the process of converting every cinema site that it supplies advertising, to digital.
3D advertising
Following the current trend of the latest films becoming available in digital 3D, DCM announced plans to go down that route with advertising. In December 2009, the hugely popular film Avatar was the first film in Britain to be coupled with a 3D advertising reel.
Each film that is released in 3D now comes with a selection of advertising spots in that format. These adverts are shown after the regular 2D reel, interluded with a sponsored message, informing the audience that they must now put on their 3D glasses to enable the chance to view the following advertisements in 3D.
Controversy
In 2015 DCM created controversy when they did not permit the display of a Church of England advert featuring the Lord’s Prayer, due to their policies prohibiting religious advertising. The Government’s equalities watchdog also voiced alarm, suggesting it undermined "essential British values".[2]