Coronavirus has caused a global scare, bringing multiple sectors including movie theaters to a standstill. You might not have to buy tickets when movie theaters open again after the coronavirus pandemic.
In an attempt to put a lid on the spread of COVID-19, governments across the globe have restricted, if not banned public gatherings. As a result, movie theaters have turned into what looks like ghost towns, with numerous employees been relieved of their duties amid plummeting revenue.
Movie studios, on the other hand, have postponed releases of their upcoming films, leaving moviegoers questioning how (or can) movie theaters survive the impact of coronavirus. NATO (National Association of Theatre Owners) is directly experiencing the aftermath of the movie industry undergoing a complete closedown.
While there is no sort of confirmation about the coronavirus pandemic ending soon, NATO is urging Congress to offer loans and funds in a bid to protect country-wide movie theaters from going out of business. Moreover, the organization is monitoring developments from movie theaters across the globe in an attempt to determine its plan of action once the pandemic is over.
While talking to Screen Rant, Nato's CCO (chief communications officer) Patrick Corcoran says there is a possibility that movie theaters are highly likely to access for free when they re-open. For those unaware, several recently re-opened movie theaters in China are currently showing old films without charging the consumer a single dime.
If movie theaters manage to find financial stability in the form of a bailout or loan, it may be a good move to remind moviegoers why they need to watch their favorite films on a larger screen, with a group of other people. Among a slew of other big concerns, movie theaters are afraid of losing potential consumers to streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime amid the pandemic.
For the sake of an instance, the number of subscribers for Disney+ increased three times after schools closed, and the service added Frozen 2 to its list of movies kids could watch during the social isolation period, Movie Web reported. To make things worse, TV and movie productions are getting postponed due to the coronavirus, leaving no choice for the consumers but to enjoy the content available on Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services.
For those stuck in their homes, these streaming services might prove to be the only feasible access to the entertainment realm. In other words, movie theaters have a Herculean task luring back audiences when the coronavirus pandemic is over. Offering noteworthy discounts is one of the most effective ways to bring people back, which explains why NATO is considering it.