John Farnham fans are calling for his tribute concert to be made available on streaming services.
Hoyts announced it would screen The Songs of John Farnham: A Living Legend again after about 23,000 people watched the concert through its national livestream.
However, fans have pointed out that Hoyts has only 50 cinemas across Australia, with no venues in Tasmania, leaving some people facing long drives to see the encore screening.
“The closest Hoyts to Cairns is in Brisbane, 1,760 km away,” one fan said.
“Nice that they are screening it again, but it doesn’t alter the fact that Hoyts are not everywhere and thousands upon thousands are still going to miss out,” another said.
“That’s great for people who live in major cities, but what about everyone who doesn’t have a Hoyts nearby? It’s a four and a half to five-hour drive to the nearest,” a third complained.
Fans have suggested releasing the concert on DVD, making it available through other cinema chains or showing it on free-to-air television.
The original concert took place at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena after tickets sold out within hours. Hoyts then broadcast it live to cinemas across the country in what it described as an “unprecedented” event.
Cinema tickets cost $55, compared with last-minute tickets to the live event ranging from $299 to $1,600.
Hoyts said it decided to add more screenings following the “incredible” demand, with some cinemas selling out rapidly.
“Delivering a live broadcast simultaneously across cinemas nationally was a significant undertaking and required an enormous collaborative effort from everyone involved,” Michelle Gater, Hoyts’ general manager of programming and content, said.
“It was incredibly special to see cinemas filled with John Farnham fans coming together to share in the celebration, and we’re very proud to have played a part in making that possible.”
The date and locations for the encore screenings have not yet been announced. The concert will be shown as a re-edited version created specifically for the big screen.
Image: Hoyts
