CineBUZZ REPORT - 5 August 2012

HIGH LITES OF THIS WEEK'S REPORT

- WB BATTLES PIRATES ON AMAZON
- GOOGLE WALLET Goes BIG For CINEMAS
- EEC AND NOISE STUDIOS FORM AFFILIATION
- HOBBIT To Use SPECIAL EDITION 3D GLASSES

WB Targets Pirates Using AMAZON
Last week Warner Bros. filed suit in U.S. District Court in California alleging that third-party sellers are retailing counterfeit and unauthorized copies of WB movies through Amazon on-line.
In its suit, WB states that it "has suffered and continues to suffer irreparable harm and damage through these illegal sales."  The suits were filed against Amazon seller Todd Beckman and 10 other co-defendants with an additional 19 lawsuits filed against other sellers.  WB claims there are more than 2 million independent sellers using Amazon.com as there sales vehicle.
WB claims the defendants sell the counterfeit and pirated copies of movies in several formats, including: video cassettes, laser discs, DVDs, compact discs, and BluRay discs.  Amazon declined to comment on WB's allegations.  CMG will keep you informed.



Google Wallet System

GOOGLE WALLET Now Good With All Credit Cards

Last year CMG reported on the value of equipping cinemas with the ability to accept payment for admissions and concession sales via smartphones - and saying that the Google Wallet was one of the best payment systems for this.  Since that time, the use of smartphones for retail payments by consumers has soared.
The Wallet is now one of the largest apps used for phone payments and it just expanded - as it can now be used with all credit cards.  Originally, only Citibank customers with a MasterCard could use the Wallet service, but last week Google enhanced Wallet so it can now be used with any credit card and allows users to access credit card data and the capability to disable Wallet on-line should your phone be lost or stolen. Google Wallet competes against Square, LevelUp, and Pay Pal but with its new enhancements Wallet is the most user-friendly system.
For there part, to take advantage of a phone payment system, cinemas need to install point-of-sale systems that include near-field-communications (NFC). NFC allows cash registers to communicate wirelessly with smartphones.  About 200,000 retail outlets in the U.S. currently use Google Wallet - including McDonald's, WalMart, Whole Foods, and Macys - which also use Wallet to provide users with store coupons and rewards.

EEC Forms ALLIANCE With NOISE STUDIOS

Entertainment Equipment Corp. and NOISE Studios have formed a representative agreement, whereby NOISE will sell, install, and service cinema audio products throughout the Middle East and North Africa. with the assistance of EEC.
Located in Cairo, NOISE Studios currently markets, installs, and services audio systems to commercial and entertainment venues. "Given it's international business experience, the addition of the cinema market - through its affiliation with Entertainment Equipment -  will further strengthen NOISE's market depth, reputation, and brand" says, Mohamed Omar, President, NOISE Studios.

" As in the Far East, the cinema is expanding rapidly in the Middle East and there is great opportunity for good companies to grow and prosper. Our venture with NOISE will expand our market reach and provides a real growth opportunity for us", states Jim Lavorato, President, Entertainment Equipment Corp.

Contact: Mohamed Omar, NOISE Studios
16 26 of July Street, Suite 3
Modandessin-Giza 12411
Cario, Egypt
2-02-3346-9023  or mail@noisestudios.net

"The Hobbit" To Use SPECIAL EDITION 3D Glasses

The Hobbit franchise will consist of three films which are scheduled to be released in a high-frame rate format of 48 frames per second and in 3D.  For this event, special edition 3D glasses are being producted (see insert).

Inspired by Middle Earth the first of the 3 films - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is due to be released on December 4th.  It is rumored that The Hobbit trilogy will have the impact and imagery of Avatar.  Lets hope it does and matches Avatar's grosses as well,