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Movie Studios Slowly Ramp Up TV Spending On Theatrical Films 08/24/2020

by Wayne Friedman , August 21, 2020

Movie studios are slowly ramping up TV advertising in anticipation of the re-opening of theaters, after a shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic over the last five months.

Top national TV advertising spenders include Solstice Studios “Unhinged;" 20th Century Studios’ “The New Mutants;” Orion Pictures’ “Bill & Ted Face The Music;” Roadside Attractions’ “Words on Bathroom Walls” and Searchlight Pictures' “The Personal History of David Copperfield.”

During the most recent two-week period -- August 7 through August 20 -- $10.5 million was spent on national TV networks for theatrical movies --some 2,219 total airings, yielding 762 million impressions, according to iSpot.tv.

This compares with a total of $216,965 (36 airings and 136.4 million impression) in total movie studio national TV spending for theatrical movies in the previous two-week period -- July 20 through August 6.

Movie studio spending breaks down as follows: 20th Century Studios, $3.7 million; Solstice Studios, $2.5 million; Orion Pictures, $2.0 million; Roadside Attractions, $1.4 million; Searchlight Pictures, $481,969; and Warner Bros. $353,921.

Three of the biggest U.S. movie theater chains -- AMC Theaters, Cinemark Theaters, Regal Cinemas, Marcus Theaters will slowly open anywhere from up to 40% of their theaters over the next week and a half.

Currently, around 1,000 U.S theaters are now estimated to be open (300 of which are drive-ins) -- less than 20% of all U.S. movie theaters. According to NATO -- the National Association of Theater Owners -- in 2019 there were 5,548 indoor movie theaters and 321 drive-ins.

The biggest film to come in September is the big spy action thriller, Warner Bros.' “Tenet,” intended for summer. The studio began spending slowly on the movie in May, with hope of a summer start. TV commercials for the film to date had just 26 airings -- totaling $453,274.