Mexican exhibitor Cinepolis has begun screening recorded music concerts and plans to show operas and popular television shows on the big screen. The music push came as a result of a deal with Warner Music Mexico to show pre-recorded (high def?) concerts of the likes of Mexican rock band Mana, Pearl Jam, Spanish pop artist Alejandro Sanz and Madonna. To make it feel like more of a concert the exhibitor will sell beer and offer concert souvenirs in conjunction with the screenings. According to Variety, there are even more ambitious plans on the horizon:

Additionally, the theater chain said that, later this year, it will project season openers and finales of popular U.S. television series. Luis Carrillo, Cinepolis’ director of new business development, said his company is “logically looking to extend its agreement with Warner” for TV product.

Cinepolis has expressed interest in talking with other content suppliers as well, particularly those with programs that have performed well on Mexican television, such as “Lost,” “Desperate Housewives” and “24.”

Showing popular television shows in cinemas has already been tried with show like “Lost” in the Czech Republic and also Korean TV shows in Japan. I don’t know if this has ever been tried in the US for drama (things like the Oscars don’t count).
Then there are discussions for Cinepolis to show the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on the big screen, with exhibitor rival Cinemex having had a positive experience of showing ESPN broadcasts of NFL games in cinemas. (I wonder how they got around the opposition to the type of alternative content screening that led the NFL to send cease and desist letters to cinemas in Wisconsin planning to do just that.)