Details

27 mins, 2000

How do cinemas use information technology? We compare two very different examples.

The huge Film Works multiplex, in Manchester, has its own web-site. The much smaller Gate cinema, in London, uses e-mails to keep in touch with its customers but otherwise has much more limited IT.

The Gate still issues tickets manually, while in the Film Works customers can book and pay for their seats automatically over the phone.

Digital technology promises to revolutionise the showing of films. Movies will be sent as data files on disks or over satellite links. But how will the smaller cinemas cope?