AMC, the second-largest movie theater company in the U.S., with theaters in more than 300 locations, has listened to feedback from its customers, something many companies don’t do today.
In a news release to KMOX News, AMC CEO Adam Aron wrote, “Not today, not tomorrow and not in the foreseeable future.”
Aron also sent a text message out on Twitter, saying, “We have heard loud and clear that this is a concept our audience does not want.”
Earlier this week, in an interview with Variety, Aron said that if movie theaters wanted to survive, the glow of 100 little screens interrupting film viewers was a worthwhile sacrifice to make. According to the Daily Mail, Aron went on to say this could be accomplished by having “texting-friendly” theaters.
AMC’s big boss made the announcement to Variety just weeks after AMC completed its purchase of rival, Carmike, making AMC the biggest retail movie theater company in the country. The 61-year-old Aron is a new face at AMC, having been the interim boss at Starwood Hotels for 11 months from February to December 2015. Aron is also the former CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers and has been chief executive of Vail Resorts Inc. and Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd.
Aron may have been hasty making his comment about allowing texting in some of AMC’s theaters and been slapped down, but he still has some other great ideas to make the movie theater-going experience more exciting. Aron foresees reclining seats, full bars and more food options to make the movie-goer more comfortable and the movie experience more enjoyable.
But as for now, no texting will be allowed.
