Click the image to watch CNN's Brooke Anderson report on why movie theaters do well in recessions. Interviews with NATO President and CEO John Fithian and Media by Numbers' Paul Degarabedian are included. 

 A great article in NATO's former magazine, In Focus, covers the problems and prospects for alcohol service in the cinema.

Meanwhile, Fox Business Channel interviews yours truly about luxury cinema:

And Fox News talks with us about alcohol service:

NATO President John Fithian presents the first ShoWest/NATO Freedom of Expression Award to Ang Lee and James Schamus for their courage and integrity in releasing Lust, Caution with an NC-17 rating.

Under the leadership of NATO's digital cinema consultant Michael Karagosian and dedicated member volunteers, the new requirements updates some issues and breaks new ground in others, including

            - Operational requirements

            - Maintenance operations

            - Workflow requirements

            - System requirements for support of the blind, deaf, and hard-of-hearing.

 
A fresh review of the entire document was conducted, deleting some requirements no longer needed, and expanding or creating new section topics. Among the highlights,

 1) Exhibitor-driven universal theatre identification scheme introduced.

2) Establishes the requirement for a commodity digital cinema server.

3) New requirement for closed caption support.

4) Workflow automation requirements introduced.

5) TMS (Theater Management System) described in terms of 3 service functions, with detailed roles for each service.

                6) New requirements for exhibitor network security.
 

 If you have d-cinema systems installed in your theater, or are planning to install them, I encourage you to read it.