AMC Theatres (NYSE:AMC) announced that guests can find select showtimes utilizing an open caption format at 240 AMC locations, in more than 100 US markets. The offering of some open caption showtimes for all new release movies is intended to expand the overall movie-going audience, especially intended for those with hearing difficulties or where English is a second language. All AMC moviegoers are welcome at open caption showtimes, the company says in its announcement.
Related article: ‘The Hill’ Op-Ed Supports Quality Standards for Captioned Telephone Service Changes
Guests at participating AMC locations can find clearly marked open caption showtimes on AMCTheatres.com and the AMC mobile app, according to the announcement. The showtimes currently represent a mix of weekend and weekdays, evenings and matinees, and are expected to evolve with movie-going demand and guest feedback. In addition to public showtimes, open captions are now available through AMC’s Private Theatre Rentals program at participating locations. While AMC is “excited to offer open captioning for those of our guests who desire this format,” the “vast majority of showtimes at AMC” will continue to be offered with closed captioning, the company says. Therefore, AMC will continue to have assisted listening devices available at all of its locations nationwide.
Executive Vice President, Worldwide Programming & Chief Content Officer, AMC, Elizabeth Frank, said, “Inclusive programming is core to AMC’s strategy, and we’re proud to lead the theatrical exhibition industry by making some open caption showtimes available at hundreds of our locations nationwide. By adding open captions to the variety of presentation formats we offer, AMC locations become a more welcoming place for millions of Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as many for whom English is not their native language. Initial consumer response has been very positive, and we anticipate strong demand with growing awareness of open caption showtimes at AMC.”
For a list of AMC locations that offer open caption showtimes, guests can visit: https://www.amctheatres.com/open-caption.
About AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc.
AMC is reportedly “the largest movie exhibition company in the United States, the largest in Europe, and the largest throughout the world with approximately 950 theaters and 10,500 screens across the globe.” For more information, visit: www.amctheatres.com.
Source: AMC
