Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: LCD/Plasma TV's for signage

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Posted by Matt Fields (Member # 3211) on 11-12-2005, 10:53 AM:

I have been thinking about using some flat screen tv's hooked up to a PC for my box office signage and concession menu board.
I think it would look cool and be easy to change the showtimes/menu items and prices.

Has anyone else tried this? And if so, what software did you use to present the information?

Thanks, Matt.

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 11-12-2005, 12:22 PM:

Hitachi has a turnkey package like that. McDonald's is using them in some of their flagship locations. The McD's in the food court at the entrance to the Palms Brenden 14 here uses that system. It looks great.

Google shows some other names like Exhibio and EyeCaptare doing such systems.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 11-12-2005, 02:05 PM:

Will "burn in" be a problem?? Louis

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 11-12-2005, 02:25 PM:

Burn in isn't normally a problem for LCD-based displays. It is a factor for plasma units since their basis, down on the pixel level, is somewhat similar to that of CRTs.

As for the use of plasma screens for box office signs...well, they're not all that great.

The major problem is you cannot get characters sizes up to a decent legible size for viewers outside to see at a good distance. The TV screens just aren't big enough.

The other problem is you'll have to create video based graphics to display your showtimes and other content. It's not all that difficult to do, but it does take a lot more time to put together than using simple message center software for LED-based displays.

A plasma screen or LCD screen display would be good for showing movie trailers and also upselling concession stand items and other stuff within the theater. It's just not very practical for displaying showtimes. I think LED message centers do a better job. The trend in most new movie theaters is to feature LED displays in the box office and above movie theater entrances and then use other TV monitors to show movie trailers.

Scala makes some turnkey solutions for LCD and plasma screen based signs. Panasonic, Pioneer and Sony have specific solutions of their own (the Pioneer stuff is really good -great for kiosks).

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 11-12-2005, 04:23 PM:

Stay away from plasma unless you don't mind logos etc. burned into the screen, in a matter of days. If you do it at all, go with LCD.

Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 11-14-2005, 01:02 PM:

And my question is, is it really worth it. I have yet to be in a theatre that was showing previews in the lobby to find anyone but ME looking at it. It's always seemed to be a waste.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 11-14-2005, 03:45 PM:

INHO: If they are in the lobby, I want them BUYING; not watching TV for free. Louis

Posted by Matt Fields (Member # 3211) on 11-14-2005, 08:43 PM:

If I do the LCD's, I'm not going to do one for lobby previews. Our lobby is rather small. I don't want the extra noise and I also don't see the benefit vs. cost.

Posted by Jason M Miller (Member # 2597) on 11-14-2005, 09:43 PM:

I always had an cool idea I would like to try sometime if I ever own my own theater.

Make (or buy something) a case that includes both the LED signs and an LCD tv (example below) so you can have the titles and times running on the LED signs while you can play what ever you would like (run an ad for your concession, gift cards, etc) on the LCD

Posted by Mark Hajducki (Member # 1732) on 11-15-2005, 06:18 AM:

If possible have all the films (still to show that day) on the display at once as it is annoying to have to wait for the display to cycle. If you have more than one film showing per screen display both of them all the time.

Posted by Matt Fields (Member # 3211) on 11-15-2005, 06:30 AM:

I only have four screens. I should be able to display all of the movies in fairly large type. - Matt

Posted by David Buckley (Member # 2600) on 11-15-2005, 12:37 PM:

The cinema in a "local" mall has a pair of LCD tellys (look like 42 inch) stuck on a column (about 10 feet up) in the mall showing previews and stuff, as an enticement I guess. The two screens are on top of one another showing the same thing. Its not terribly spectacular or cool. And they (as in this multiplex) suck at breakdown.

Thats not to dis the technology, it works really well if done well, but to do it "properly" needs more than a single screen and powerpoint.

Having said that, a chain of supermarkets over here is equippping their stores with loads of standard LCD PC monitors, all showing the same program. They're on every checkout, by the lottery ticket stand, the entrance, and several scattered around the store. Anywhere people lurk. In the stores with newest tills an LCD monitor has replaced the traditional cash register display, and when the lane is closed or waiting, it displays... the advert program.

This is a big investment so they must think it works for them.

Posted by Jason Setzer (Member # 3949) on 09-21-2006, 05:49 PM:

I actually am in the process of developing a POS display for plasmas. I am not selling it just developing it to see if anyone uses it. Again I will be giving away for free. If anyways wants to see the initial version I have no problem emailing it to them.

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 09-21-2006, 07:22 PM:

We have a load of plasma screens for the monthly preview DVD for the chain. Have a couple out in the mall as well. Also used a projector and a large screen in the concessions area but that's either broken or the floor staff don't know how to use it. It's all hooked up to one DVD player.

I disagree about running trailers in the lobby not being useful, most customers look at them in passing or whilst they are waiting for the film. It's another way to advertise upcoming films I guess, along with some promotions. Ours is branded the same as the chain magazine and is just as repetitive.

On the concession stand, it's easier to just put prices on a board or on a laminated sheet. Get an LCD screen and use it for promotions. It may serve to distract customers from the actual prices and just plump for the deals!

Posted by Charles Greenlee (Member # 3856) on 09-21-2006, 09:13 PM:

I haven't noticed any customers paying any attention at all to our lobby DVD. I honsetly think we could put a porn up and no one would notice, or that'll be what it takes for someone to notice. Waste of a DVD, TV, and the electricity to run them.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 09-21-2006, 09:14 PM:

Many Carmike locations have changed out the menu boards at their concessions counters to new models that feature LCD monitors integrated into the menu boards. They show a mix of movie trailers, snack and drink ads and promotions for DLP and Christie digital projection. The volume is down at a fairly low level.

Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 09-21-2006, 09:25 PM:

I would use the LCD over plasma due to plasmas burn in factor, LCD does not damage nearly as easly. The rail system in Sydney went Plasma this way in 2000 and within 2 years looked pretty bad and all have been replaced.

Posted by Erich Talbot (Member # 3956) on 09-22-2006, 03:28 AM:

We have had a Plasma 52" running show information for about 3 years. We use PowerPoint as its simple and works well. There has been no problem with burning the screen as we have logos etc in different places on every slide.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 09-22-2006, 02:05 PM:

quote: Erich Talbot
There has been no problem with burning the screen as we have logos etc in different places on every slide.

Well, that just means the entire screen has burned uniformly. "Burned" = "Deteriorated" on plasmas. [Wink]

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 09-24-2006, 02:31 AM:

We had the luxury of being able to break into two marble walls either side of our concessions area that had enuf back space that we could use cheap CRTs rather than expensive flat panel LCDs. With the rush now to flat screens, you can get CRT-based monitors for practically nothing. We imbedded them into the wall, framed them with the same wood panel and brushed aluminum piping facade that is used in the theatre interior. They LOOK like flat panels. They were so cheap that I insisted we by two more so if the ones we mounted are damaged, stolen or just outright fail, I've got replacements standing by. Since the structure that holds them in place was put together by our carpenter to exactly fit that exact CRT model, I wanted to be sure that if they ever have to be replaced, we wouldn't have to re-do the whole structure again to fit a different model.

If you've got the depth that you can put a CRT into the wall so they look like flat panel monitors, then going with CRTs will save you a bundle.

Just as an aside, the Computer Center at the college has shelves and shelves full of 19 and 23 inch CRT monitors that they can't give away. The guys over there call it "monitor envy" -- if one or two people have their failing CRT monitor replaced with a flat panel, then EVERYONE in the office wants a flat panel. He said coworkers who have gotten along for years now are not talking to one another because one got a flat panel LCD while the other still has a CRT. Funny thing is, in an office environment, flat panels really don't save space at all despite their much skinnier size; the user sits his spanking new LCD flat panel screen at the very same distance where the CRT screen used to sit. All that does is give him/her a lot of dead space behind the screen which almost useless.

As for LED signage, the very high tech look that they have can actually be counter-productive depending on the operation. In an art house concession that is selling foo-foo, upscale items to the art crowd (read: how-high-can-I-get-my-nose-in-the-air-while-I-eat-my-gourmet-carrot-and-macadamia-nut-cake-and-drink-my-french-vanilla-latte), you might be served much better with more "alternative" looking signage. We use the write-on-and-glow plastic signs; they hand-written and that "look" fits in much better with the whole gourmet/artsy feel that seems to be so very attractive to some who thing that eating popcorn is fine for the un-washed, but not for them. The write-on signs are very inexpensive. We use a variety of colors that flourese nicely; as low-tech as that is, they are quite eye-catching and can be easily seen from a distance.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 09-24-2006, 11:56 AM:

I still prefer CRT monitors for graphics use. They display color more evenly and accurately than LCD flat panel displays. This is really noticeable for things like light earth tones and other subtle colors.

However, for lobby displays, I would definitely go with LCD. Prices have fallen a great deal on LCD monitors and there is a big variety of wide aspect ratio screens. It's better to show a 'scope letter boxed movie trailer in anamorphic widescreen on a 16:9 display (provided the DVD material was made in anamorphic widescreen).

LED signs won't work well for concessions menus. I haven't seen a movie theater or restaurant anywhere try to use them for that purpose. The LED characters would have to be shrank to sizes of perhaps only 1/2" or 3/4" to show all the menu lettering and fit it within the given space. At that small size overglow would make the letters difficult to read.

LED signs are very good for displaying show titles and show times near the box office and for displaying the same info at each auditorium entrance. Printer mylars are still pretty good as well, but not as bright. Either way, any theater needs a consistent, professional appearance for their signs.

Hand-writing concessions menus might be fine if the theater's decor lends itself to it. Most restaurants and bars usually confine the handwriting signage stuff to specials on a chalk board. I certainly would not have all of the interior signs of a business consist of handwriting "self signage" displays. That would just look cheap.