Subscribe to RSSCinema Scene Marketing, one of the nation’s leading providers of in-lobby media and promotions, uses Popstar Networks to provide digital signage software and digital media services in support of Cinema Scene’s growing Lobby Digital Media Network – currently boasting more than 600 displays in more than 200 theater locations nationwide.
Cinema Scene draws on Popstar Networks’ extensive expertise and proven successes in digital signage solutions to provide dynamic in-theater marketing, through high-definition motion picture trailers, product information, targeted messages, and interactive experiences to moviegoers before and after the show. Cinema Scene was looking to launch a Digital Media Network, featuring a new flagship product – TrailerVision™, combining elements of a static movie poster with digital technology to stream movie trailers and advertisements in potentially hundreds of theater lobbies.
Through their due diligence efforts, Cinema Scene quickly saw the need for a digital signage software solution that could:
The Solution
The Popstar Networks team worked closely with Cinema Scene to fully assess the unique technical and operational challenges of this extensive rich-media network, and then recommend and implement solutions supporting Cinema Scene’s aggressive growth plans.
During the project, the Popstar Networks team:
The Hardware
The Popstar Networks utilizes AOpen Digital Engine series ultra-small form factor media players to drive their software solution for Cinema Scene’s TrailerVision. Since April of 2008, Popstar Networks has relied upon AOpen for their media players, including the AOpen DE945, DE965 and DE45. Nearly 400 Digital Engine media players have been deployed across the United States for TrailerVision as of 2011 and 200 more are planned by the end of 2012.
“We’ve had customers who tried other solutions, but in the end were only successful deploying AOpen Digital Engines. AOpen truly understands the needs of the digital signage industry, and builds reliable platforms to meet those needs.”
-Dane Oldridge, VP, Technical Sales, Popstar Networks
The Results
Using a combination of Popstar Networks’ digital signage software and services, featuring AOpen Digital Engine media players, the company successfully delivered a complete digital marketing solution for Cinema Scene comprising of up to five different digital formats at a single location, including: passive, 3D, semi-holographic projection, touchscreens and digital menu boards for concessions.
Popstar Networks’ solutions for Cinema Scene have effectively scaled from 17 theaters initially to more than 250 theaters today with more than 500 TrailerVision displays — with more in the pipeline.
“Major Hollywood studios and corporations of all types rely on Cinema Scene to reach and interact with consumers every day through our digital signage network. Popstar Networks’ digital signage software and services gives us confidence in our continued growth.”
-Joe Ross, Managing Principal, Cinema Scene
Cinema Scene is now distributing more than eight terabytes of media-rich data annually from a single, Cloud hosted environment. Moreover, the effectiveness of Cinema Scene’s Digital Media Network has opened doors to new opportunities to provide other in-theater promotional support.
About Cinema Scene:
Cinema Scene Marketing is an industry leader in driving theatrical promotions for major studios and corporate sponsors. Cinema Scene’s in-lobby promotions generate memorable brand exchanges with highly-desirable entertainment consumers. The Cinema Scene Digital Media Network provides advertisers the opportunity to entertain movie audiences via next-generation media platforms in an organized network of cinemas covering key U.S. markets.
Visit their website at www.cinemascenemarketing.com.
About AOpen:
AOpen America, Inc. a pioneer in the ultra-small form-factor (uSFF) industry has cultivated a sophisticated ecosystem of premium solution providers along with distribution channels.
The company has built a strong reputation as a digital signage specialist and works closely with its alliance partners, who are available to consult and assist on a per-project basis. The alliance force simplifies the process of bringing digital signage to market.
Please visit us at usa.aopen.com.
Interesting news out of CES today on Microsoft Kinect for Windows – how it has evolved, and what Microsoft is doing to encourage the development community to explore new uses beyond gaming. 
Popstar Networks’ customers in retail, entertainment and other verticals are very attuned to the new natural user interface capabilities this technology offers, and the possible impact to digital signage.
See the full article.
Today’s issue of Forbes online has a great contributed article from Raj Rao, global director, eCommerce and Digital Marketing, 3M Corporate Marketing about their experience and approach engaging consumers online and in-store. 
Rao points out research from comScore, Inc., that “Nearly half of shoppers who begin their search on retail sites make a purchase in the physical store, while 40% transact online.”
The relationship and the continued importance of connecting online, mobile and social campaigns with the in-store experience is critical for marketers, brand managers and others focused on consumer engagement and behaviors.
A logical consideration here is the integration of passive or interactive digital signage in-store, working with a highly relevant content strategy — to further enhance the overall shopper marketing experience.
Cinema Scene Marketing is featured on Digital Signage Today — announcing continued expansion of their digital signage/DOOH network.
Popstar Networks software and services enable the robust features, functionality and scalability of Cinema Scene Marketing’s digital media network.
You can read the case study for more information.
Popstar Networks’ Chief Technology Officer Steve Hagenlock addresses some of the inherent complexities of today’s advanced digital signage networks in the current issue of Systems inDesign – the eMagazine from Avent Embedded Systems.
Steve’s comments appear on pages 58-60.
Systems inDesign-June 2011
The In-Store Marketing Institute’s March newsletter features this article on “shelf-talkers” going mobile through the use of static QR codes.
As they report, “More and more, QR and text-message codes are making their way onto P-O-P materials as brands and retailers seek ways to better engage smartphone-wielding shoppers.”
And while this is certainly a great way to extend your reach to consumers, retailers are only dipping their toe in the water of what makes for a truly engaging in-store customer experience.
Employing passive or interactive digital signage networks as part of an overall shopper-marketing approach — fully integrating online and mobile strategies — provides more flexible, dynamic and highly relevant campaign capabilities.
The dynamic nature of digital displays means QR codes or text-back campaigns linking to coupons and other information can be changed or updated on the fly, tested at targeted locations or with multi-variant options across the system.
Add audience recognition capabilities to these in-store displays and kiosks and suddenly your knowledge of the consumer has risen to a completely new level.
Retail digital signage really becomes the connection between online, mobile and in-store experiences.
Digital Signage Today ran this article on Monday discussing the continued growth trend for digital menu boards within quick service (QSR) and fast casual restaurants in the U.S. and internationally.
We see similar trends with our QSR clients, where pilot deployments in a handful of locations are used as proof of concept for both corporate and franchise locations.
Kahala Corp is taking an interesting approach with one of their newest stores, combining multiple brands – in this case Blimpie, Frulatti Cafe, and Samurai Sam’s – under one roof. They’ve deployed digital menu boards for all three, and are driving the multi-brand experience from a single software platform and instance.
KCnext – the local technology forum & catalyst – reported this week that the area’s technology industry recently received national attention in articles, publications and rankings of significance. This coverage shows the continued strength of Kansas City as both a technology and entrepreneurial hub — with great talent to support new and emerging companies.
Kansas City Among the Fastest Growing Startup Cities
With an entrepreneur growth rate of 22.97 percent, Kansas City is the third fastest growing startup community in the world, according to StartUpDigest.com.
Kansas City Named a Top 25 Tech-Heavy U.S. City
The KC region’s technology companies employed 64,600 people in 2009, making Kansas City no. 24 among the top 60 tech-heavy U.S. cities, according to a report released by TechAmerica Foundation. The Kansas City region stood out for its strong concentration of employees in telecommunications. This sector provided 20,900 jobs in 2009, making our region the eighth-largest market for telecom services in the country. This report is based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and includes 15 counties in our bi-state area. Kansas City Business Journal
Why You Should Start a Company in Kansas City
FastCompany.com recently released an article highlighting the long term potential of Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. With notable homegrown entrepreneur success stories like Cerner and Garmin, and several new and existing entrepreneurial programs in place, Kansas City gives startup aspirants major benefits and options.
To read the full articles, visit KCnext.com/News .
A study released today on CMO.com, conducted by SayMedia, found that almost 56 million Americans belong to a group that the study categorized as “Off the Grid” — they spend more time watching non-live videos (say a YouTube video, or a TV show recorded on DVR) than they spend watching live TV. That’s nearly one-third of the online adult population in the United States, according to the report.