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Cinemas seek to switch off mobiles for good
Annoying mobile users are keeping moviegoers away, say theatre owners

By Reuters

Published: Wednesday 15 March 2006

Cinema owners in the US faced with falling attendance are considering asking federal authorities for permission to jam mobile phone reception in an attempt to stop annoying conversations during films, the head of the industry's trade group said on Tuesday.

Industry leaders at the ShoWest conference for movie theatre owners want to find ways to win back crowds.

John Fithian, president of the National Association of Theater Owners, told the ShoWest conference in Las Vegas: "I don't know what's going on with consumers that they have to talk on phones in the middle of theatres."

Theatres are trying a number of ways to silence mobile phones - from sweeps by ushers to funny fake movie trailers urging viewers to shut off phones.

Fithian said cinema owners were considering other steps if that does not work.

He said: "We will actually petition the Federal Communications [Commission] to remove the block [on jamming mobile phones]."

That may be difficult, however, since US federal law and FCC rules prohibit the use of mobile phone jammers.