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| Odeon confirms Wonderland boycott | Odeon confirms Wonderland boycott |
| (1 day later) | |
| Tim Burton's new film version of Alice in Wonderland will not be screened at Odeon cinemas in the UK, Irish Republic and Italy, the cinema chain says. | Tim Burton's new film version of Alice in Wonderland will not be screened at Odeon cinemas in the UK, Irish Republic and Italy, the cinema chain says. |
| The move is in response to the Disney studio's plan to reduce the period in which it can be shown only in cinemas from the standard 17 weeks. | The move is in response to the Disney studio's plan to reduce the period in which it can be shown only in cinemas from the standard 17 weeks. |
| The plan would allow Disney to release the film on DVD at the end of May. | The plan would allow Disney to release the film on DVD at the end of May. |
| Odeon said it would "set a new benchmark, leading to a 12-week window becoming rapidly standard". | Odeon said it would "set a new benchmark, leading to a 12-week window becoming rapidly standard". |
| Cineworld cinemas will show the movie, however, after reaching an independent agreement with the Disney studio. | Cineworld cinemas will show the movie, however, after reaching an independent agreement with the Disney studio. |
| The Vue chain is also understood to have reached an agreement with Disney, details of which are due to be announced shortly. | The Vue chain is also understood to have reached an agreement with Disney, details of which are due to be announced shortly. |
| Odeon's decision will not affect the film's Royal premiere on Thursday, which is coincidentally set to take place at the Odeon Leicester Square in central London. | Odeon's decision will not affect the film's Royal premiere on Thursday, which is coincidentally set to take place at the Odeon Leicester Square in central London. |
| Tim Burton talks about his experimentation with his latest film, Alice in Wonderland | Tim Burton talks about his experimentation with his latest film, Alice in Wonderland |
| Nor will it affect its plans to show the film in Spain, Germany, Portugal and Austria - territories where Disney intends to observe the normal DVD release window. | Nor will it affect its plans to show the film in Spain, Germany, Portugal and Austria - territories where Disney intends to observe the normal DVD release window. |
| Starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Alice in Wonderland sees the novel's heroine return as a teenager to the magical kingdom for more surreal adventures. | Starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Alice in Wonderland sees the novel's heroine return as a teenager to the magical kingdom for more surreal adventures. |
| Inspired by the works of Lewis Carroll, the film also stars Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway and Britain's Matt Lucas. | Inspired by the works of Lewis Carroll, the film also stars Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway and Britain's Matt Lucas. |
| The Odeon & UCI Cinema Group is Britain's largest cinema chain with more than 100 sites nationwide. Cineworld and Vue are the second and third biggest. | The Odeon & UCI Cinema Group is Britain's largest cinema chain with more than 100 sites nationwide. Cineworld and Vue are the second and third biggest. |
| Together they represent just under two-thirds of all cinema screens in the UK. | Together they represent just under two-thirds of all cinema screens in the UK. |
| 'Need for exceptions' | 'Need for exceptions' |
| It is the amount of time that separates a film coming out in cinemas and its release on DVD that is at the centre in this dispute. | It is the amount of time that separates a film coming out in cinemas and its release on DVD that is at the centre in this dispute. |
| In the UK, the window for theatrical release is 17 weeks. In the case of Alice in Wonderland, Disney wants to reduce that to 12. | In the UK, the window for theatrical release is 17 weeks. In the case of Alice in Wonderland, Disney wants to reduce that to 12. |
| TOP FIVE UK AND IRELAND CINEMA CHAINS Odeon - 107 sites/834 screens Cineworld - 74 sites/758 screensVue - 63 sites/608 screensNational Amusements - 21 sites/274 screensWard Anderson - 24 sites/206 screens Source: UK Film Council | TOP FIVE UK AND IRELAND CINEMA CHAINS Odeon - 107 sites/834 screens Cineworld - 74 sites/758 screensVue - 63 sites/608 screensNational Amusements - 21 sites/274 screensWard Anderson - 24 sites/206 screens Source: UK Film Council |
| Disney told the BBC that one of the main reasons for the decision was to bring the film to customers more quickly, thereby helping to beat piracy. | Disney told the BBC that one of the main reasons for the decision was to bring the film to customers more quickly, thereby helping to beat piracy. |
| It said if a cinema stopped showing a film before the 17-week exclusivity period, the audience did not have a legitimate way to see the movie - potentially leading to piracy. | |
| It said it had agreed to take this approach with a limited number of movies every year in certain countries. | |
| Bob Chapek, Disney's president of distribution, has said the company remains "committed" to theatrical windows. | Bob Chapek, Disney's president of distribution, has said the company remains "committed" to theatrical windows. |
| However, he believes there is a "need for exceptions to accommodate a shortened time-frame on a case-by-case basis". | However, he believes there is a "need for exceptions to accommodate a shortened time-frame on a case-by-case basis". |
| Odeon, though, believes such a move will damage not just its business but that of all cinemas in the UK. | Odeon, though, believes such a move will damage not just its business but that of all cinemas in the UK. |
| "The negative impact on cinema attendance that such a reduction in the window will have will threaten the continued existence of many cinemas, especially the smaller and medium-sized cinemas." | "The negative impact on cinema attendance that such a reduction in the window will have will threaten the continued existence of many cinemas, especially the smaller and medium-sized cinemas." |
| Odeon also highlights the additional costs the chain has incurred making its screens suitable for 3D movies. | Odeon also highlights the additional costs the chain has incurred making its screens suitable for 3D movies. |
| "Odeon/UCI has invested considerable sums of money, especially in the UK, over the past 12 months to install digital projection systems in its cinemas," it said. | "Odeon/UCI has invested considerable sums of money, especially in the UK, over the past 12 months to install digital projection systems in its cinemas," it said. |
| Opposition | Opposition |
| "The proposed reduction in the window on a high-profile 3D title like Alice in Wonderland undermines the investment made." | "The proposed reduction in the window on a high-profile 3D title like Alice in Wonderland undermines the investment made." |
| Disney also faces opposition in Belgium, the Netherlands and the US over its plans for this title. | Disney also faces opposition in Belgium, the Netherlands and the US over its plans for this title. |
| Anne Hathaway co-stars in the film alongside Johnny Depp | Anne Hathaway co-stars in the film alongside Johnny Depp |
| It is not the first time, however, it has attempted to make overtures in this area. | It is not the first time, however, it has attempted to make overtures in this area. |
| Last year, the company attempted to reduce the theatrical window of Up, the hit Pixar movie named best animated feature at the Baftas on Sunday. | Last year, the company attempted to reduce the theatrical window of Up, the hit Pixar movie named best animated feature at the Baftas on Sunday. |
| In that instance it dropped its plans after UK exhibitors threatened not to screen another of its titles, A Christmas Carol, later in the year. | In that instance it dropped its plans after UK exhibitors threatened not to screen another of its titles, A Christmas Carol, later in the year. |
| Neither is Disney the only studio to have faced opposition over theatrical exclusivity from UK cinema chains. | Neither is Disney the only studio to have faced opposition over theatrical exclusivity from UK cinema chains. |
| In 2007, Odeon and Vue removed Ben Stiller comedy Night at the Museum from their cinemas after 20th Century Fox shortened its theatrical window to 13 weeks. | In 2007, Odeon and Vue removed Ben Stiller comedy Night at the Museum from their cinemas after 20th Century Fox shortened its theatrical window to 13 weeks. |
| The Cinema Exhibitors' Association, the body representing the interests of around 90% of UK cinema operators, has not commented on this latest case. | The Cinema Exhibitors' Association, the body representing the interests of around 90% of UK cinema operators, has not commented on this latest case. |
| Speaking "in general terms", though, it said it "strongly" supported the maintenance of "a clear and exclusive window between a film's theatrical release and its release on other platforms". | Speaking "in general terms", though, it said it "strongly" supported the maintenance of "a clear and exclusive window between a film's theatrical release and its release on other platforms". |
| "The CEA believes maintenance of the window will ensure that audiences continue to enjoy the widest possible range of films in their intended environment, the cinema theatre." | "The CEA believes maintenance of the window will ensure that audiences continue to enjoy the widest possible range of films in their intended environment, the cinema theatre." |