With many people still not comfortable with going to the cinema while we are still fighting a pandemic, Showcase Cinemas has launched a new streaming service called Showcase at home.
The new video-on-demand (VoD) service is designed to complement and expand on Showcase Cinemas’ successful Event Cinema, Flashback and Spotlight programming, as well as the company’s theatrical distribution business.
With the option of watching at home or on the move with free apps for iOS and Android devices, the Showcase at home service offers a handpicked selection of films and event programming from its five content strands.
The Event Cinema strand will feature everything from concerts, theatre, ballets, exhibitions through to stage musicals, while New Release Films include quality limited and mid-level releases covering known new releases through to undiscovered gems. The Flashback stream covers classic films and fan favourites, and Spotlight includes documentaries and crossover independent releases. Finally, the Anime strand will feature Manga titles from Japan.
The library of titles come from various distributors such as Paramount, Lions Gate, Altitude, Signature, Vertigo and Verve, as well as specialist programming from companies including Eagle Rock, Seventh Art, Liberator, and All the Anime. Titles will be added continuously, and HD films will be available to rent from £3.49 and to buy from £7.99.
James Dobbin, director of Event Cinema, UK & international, Showcase Cinemas, said: “The forced temporary closure of our cinemas has obviously been a difficult period, but one positive is that it’s allowed us to develop and launch this platform.
“The big screen will always be our first priority but it’s very exciting to have a streaming platform that will give our audiences another chance to watch shows they missed at our cinemas, and also encourage them to try content they might not usually choose for their night out.
“Showcase at home truly supplements our core cinema offer and continues our commitment to innovation in the marketplaces – something we are incredibly proud of.”
The new platform will launch with the lead release of ‘Becoming Rocky: The Birth of a Classic’, a documentary about the creation of the Academy Award winning film, ‘Rocky’. It is narrated by Sylvester Stallone and features never seen before footage.
Other new releases will include the documentary, ‘Repeat Attenders’, which is about musical super fans, and Dogwoof’s, ‘The Australian Dream’.
Talking of the benefits of this new platform, Matt Smith, co-head of Theatrical at Lions Gate UK said: “Being able to extend our relationship with Showcase and their audience from the large screen to the small screen is a really exciting development for Lions Gate.
“We’re looking forward to seeing our highest quality films on Showcase at home, from new releases including ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’, through to heart-warming classics like ‘Wonder’, and to musicals such as ‘La La Land’.”
Members of Showcase’s Insider scheme will be able to earn 10% rewards on all transactions made on the platform.