United Cinemas International

United Cinemas International or UCI is a brand of cinema currently operating in the Republic of Ireland and formerly operating in the United Kingdom and other countries. It is wholly owned by Terra Firma Capital Partners. [http://www.uci.ie/index.php?page=aboutuci]

UCI was formed as a partnership of Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios initially to build cinemas in the UK. Under chairman Tom McGrath, the group expanded to build and operate cinemas in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Austria, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Japan, China, Taiwan and Brazil.

In the UK the company operated cinemas under the UCI and (later) thefilmworks brands, and enjoyed a sizeable market share. They opened the first multiplex cinema in the UK in 1985, and were one of the first to purchase a digital projector — costing a massive £130,000 — one out of only 30 worldwide. This enabled them to download films via satellite, and also play digital media disks rather than film.

In late 2004, the European division of UCI was bought by Terra Firma Capital Partners, along with rival chain Odeon Cinemas. The majority of UK UCI and thefilmworks cinemas were re-branded to use the Odeon name. As a condition of the merger with Odeon Cinemas (imposed by the Office of Fair Trading), UCI Clydebank, UCI Poole, UCI Sutton, UCI Basildon, The Empire Leicester Square and thefilmworks High Wycombe were sold to Empire Cinemas. The merger has only recently been completed, so certain elements of former UCI cinemas still retain the UCI look and feel. The UCI, UCI/Kinowelt and Cinesa brands will remain in Ireland and the rest of Europe. UCI Hull was evicted at around this time due to redevelopment. As there was already an Odeon there, it was not replaced.

The Republic of Ireland cinemas, although retaining the UCI name, are being managed as part of Odeon Cinemas and have introduced parts of their offer, such as Premier seating and the Odeon inhouse magazine, "Onscreen". Advertising now also bears the Odeon logo font in many cases. In August 2007, UCI launched a new Irish website with an identical layout to odeon.co.uk. This website states that the Irish cinemas were sold to an Irish group, Entertainment Enterprises, in September 2006. This transaction went unreported in the Irish media. It also states that the cinemas remain part of the Odeon chain under a management contract. In April 2008, Entertainment Enterprises announced that it would be acquiring the Storm Cinemas chain with the exception of the Belfast cinema, and would be contracting the management of the cinemas to Odeon. This gives Odeon/UCI 8 cinemas (with 61 screens) in the Republic of Ireland. As of yet it is undecided whether the cinemas will adopt either the UCI or Odeon brands. [http://www.movies.ie/html/article.aspx?articleid=2163]

Latin America

United Cinemas International (now UCI) is a brand of movie theatre currently operating in the Latin America by National Amusements, Inc., which owns Viacom and CBS Corporation.

Japan

In Japan, UNITED CINEMAS Co,Ltd.(ユナイテッド・シネマ株式会社）is a subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation from 2004. [ [http://www.unitedcinemas.jp/ UNITED CINEMAS (Japan)] ]

Current locations

Republic Of Ireland

Branded as UCI Cinemas

*Dublin — Blanchardstown
*Dublin — Coolock
*Dublin — Tallaght

Branded as Storm Cinemas

*Limerick
*Waterford
*Naas
*Portlaoise
*Cavan

Storm Cinemas operate also a cinema in Belfast, this however remains independent and has not been acquired by EEL/Odeon.

Italy

*Arezzo;
*Bicocca;
*Casoria;
*Certosa;
*Como;
*Cremona;
*Curno;
*Ferrara;
*Fiumara;
*Lissone;
*Marconi;
*Meridiana;
*Molfetta;
*Pioltello;
*Sinalunga;
*Verona.

Portugal

*El Corte Inglés Lisboa
*Arrabidashopping Gaia

Brazil

* New York City Center Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
* Norte Shopping Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
* Shopping Jardim Sul São Paulo, SP.
* Shopping Analia Franco São Paulo, SP.
* Ribeirão Shopping Ribeirão Preto, SP.
* Shopping Iguatemi Fortaleza, Ceará.
* Shopping Iguatemi Salvador, Bahia
* Shopping Aeroclube Salvador, Bahia.
* Shopping Estação Curitiba, Parana.
* Shopping Recife Recife, Pernambuco.
* Shopping Tacaruna Recife, Pernambuco.

References

External links

* [http://www.uci.ie/ UCI Cinemas, Republic Of Ireland Site]