National CineMedia Acquires Spotlight Cinema to Boost Ad Network and Luxury Audience Reach

Acquisition increases NCM’s national market share by approximately 6% and expands theater presence in the critical New York and Los Angeles markets by 30%

National CineMedia, Inc., the managing member of National CineMedia, LLC (NCM LLC), the operator of the largest cinema advertising platform in the U.S., today announced that it has acquired Spotlight Cinema Networks (“Spotlight”), the only U.S. cinema advertising company dedicated to serving art house, luxury, and dine-in exhibitors.

The acquisition of Spotlight adds high-scale luxury screens and exhibitors that offer unique and engaging customer experiences to NCM’s platform, unlocking new advertising and preshow entertainment inventory across theaters nationwide. Spotlight’s exhibitor partners, including Cinépolis Luxury Cinema, Landmark Theatres, Flix Brewhouse, and LOOK Dine-In Cinemas, complement NCM’s national theater network and extend NCM’s reach among culturally engaged premium audiences. The addition of Spotlight’s footprint increases NCM’s national market share by approximately 6% and expands its theater presence by 30% in the critical New York and Los Angeles markets.

Read More: AI-Ready APIs: Connecting E-Commerce Stores to the Next Wave of Automation

“The acquisition of Spotlight Cinema Networks strengthens our network and expands access to luxury audiences, enhancing the value of our platform for premium advertisers,” said Tom Lesinski, Chief Executive Officer of NCM. “With our differentiated targeting and measurement capabilities, we are well-positioned to unlock the full value of Spotlight’s inventory, capture new revenue opportunities, and advance our leadership in the cinema advertising marketplace.”

Read More: Smarter Storefronts: How AI Search Optimization Boosts Product Discovery

NCM expects to realize the full run-rate synergies over the course of 2026. On a pro forma basis, the transaction is expected to be accretive to shareholders, with a purchase multiple of 4.5x pro forma EBITDA. This underscores the Company’s disciplined approach to capital allocation and management’s commitment to delivering long-term shareholder value.

This transaction is aligned with NCM’s long-term growth strategy and supports near-term priorities, including reinforcing the Company’s commitment to strategic investment and sustainable growth.

Write to us [⁠wasim.a@demandmediaagency.com] to learn more about our exclusive editorial packages and programmes.