TY  - JOUR
AU  - Chisholm,Darlene C.
AU  - McMillan,Margaret S.
AU  - Norman,George
TI  - Product Differentiation and Film Programming Choice: Do First-Run Movie Theatres Show the Same Films?
JF  - National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series
VL  - No. 12646
PY  - 2006
Y2  - October 2006
UR  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w12646
L1  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w12646.pdf
N1  - Author contact info:
Darlene C.. Chisholm
Suffolk University
Department of Economics
8 Ashburton Place
Boston, MA  02108
E-Mail: darlene.chisholm@suffolk.edu

Margaret S. McMillan
Tufts University
Department of Economics
114a Braker Hall
Medford, MA 02155
Tel: 617/627-3137
Fax: 617/627-3197
E-Mail: margaret.mcmillan@tufts.edu

George Norman
Tufts University
Department of Economics
Medford MA 02155
E-Mail: george.norman@tufts.edu
AB  - We present an empirical analysis of product differentiation using a new dynamic panel data set on film programming choice in a major U.S. metropolitan motion-pictures exhibition market.  Using these data, we compute two measures of film programming choice which allow us to investigate the determinants of strategic product differentiation in a multi-characteristics space.  Our evidence is consistent with the idea that the degree of product differentiation between theatre pairs reflects a balance between strategic concerns and contractual constraints.  Similarity in one dimension is offset by differentiation in others.  Finally, we find that ownership matters: theatres under common ownership make more similar programming choices than theatres with different owners.
ER  -