United Cinemas International
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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. [1]
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. For details of current/former UCI cinemas in the UK see Odeon Cinemas and Empire Cinemas.
