Nu Metro
Introduction '''Nu Metro Cinemas''' is a South African cinema company. Its head office is in Dunkeld West, Gauteng.Nu Metro's history dates to when the first Metro Theatre opened in Johannesburg in 1932.The oldest still-operating Nu Metro cineplex is Bedford, which opened in 1972.The company changed its name from Metro Theatres to Nu Metro Theatres in February, 1988, and then to Nu Metro Cinemas in 2008.Ownership of the company has changed hands multiple times over its 80-plus-year history. Most recently, it was owned by the Times Media Group until 31 December 2013, when it, together with wholly owned subsidiary Popcorn Digital Cinema Advertising, were sold to an independent consortium for R75 million.Nu Metro Cinemas currently operates 21 cineplexes in South Africa, making it the second-largest cinema operator in the country, after Ster-Kinekor Theatres.The first film to feature digital audio at Nu Metro was ''Jurassic Park'' in 1993, which played at Bedford Cinema 2 in DTS. Nu Metro's first DCP-compliant digital screen was Montecasino Cinema 11, which went live in December, 2006 with ''Happy Feet''. ''Night at the Museum'' was its first live action DCP-compliant digital movie. In 2009, Nu Metro Cinemas opened Africa's first all-digital cinema complex at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. By 2013, 35 mm film had become obsolete on the circuit, with all cineplexes having been converted to DCP-compliant digital screens.In mid-2014, Nu Metro opened Scene Xtreme cinemas at The Glen and Menlyn Park. The Scene Xtreme offering is similar to the large screen format offered by IMAX. The concept features 4K digital projection, immersive 11.1-channel sound, and reclining seats.The company reopened its theatres in August 2020, following their closure as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Home Media Nu Metro indroduced their home video company sometime in 1987, releasing movies, TV shows and television made films on VHS as '''Nu Metro Home Video'''. In 1990, Gallo Africa bought in a 50 percent stake in Nu Metro and the two companies' video operations merged. Thus Disney, Warner Bros., and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films are released under the Nu Metro Video umbrella.In June 1996, Nu Metro assigned the home entertainment distributor for 20th Century Fox films in South Africa, after Ster-Kinekor Home Video made a deal with the studio from 1983 unil 1994.In 2001, Nu Metro acquired 100 percent of GTV, a small company for Paramount Pictures, BBC, and many other small distributors, until the introduction of DVDs and video games further developed Nu Metro Home Entertainment's product line. In 2004, Nu Metro Home Entertainment renewed contracts with Disney, 20th Century Fox, BBC, Warner Bros. and many others. Trading relationships had renewed with Pick n Pay, Mr. Video, Vees Videos, Blockbusters, Look & Listen and CNA.In 2007, Nu Metro Home Entertainment and BBC released all of the ''Teletubbies'' home media specials on DVD under the GTV umbrella from March to October. In 2011, Nu Metro Home Entertainment introduced their new logo and they introduced Blu-Rays, while continuing to release DVDs. In 2014, Nu Metro Home Entertainment was defunct and renamed to Entertainment One Africa.Nu Metro Home Entertainment will be one of South Africa's leading independent home video company.
References
External links *  First African digital cinema multiplex to open*  Official Nu Metro Cinemas website