• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, December 21, 2016

A year after a plan to consolidate the U.S. cinema ad marketplace was blocked by the U.S. Department of Justice, the sector is becoming even less consolidated following regulatory approval of the nation’s two largest movie theater chains.

As part of the DOJ’s approval of AMC Entertainment’s $1.2 billion acquisition of Carmike Cinemas, the company agreed to reduce its ownership of cinema ad network National CineMedia and boost the footprint of rival Screenvision Media across its theaters.

“AMC will become a significant Screenvision Media exhibitor partner through its equity stake in the company as well as through a transfer of screens to the Screenvision Media exhibitor network,” Screenvision said in a statement, noting, that its network footprint will expand to 14,795 screens, including 384 AMC screens as part of the DOJ’s approval.

As a result, Screenvision Media's network will expand within key DMAs such as Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and San Francisco.