IdahoPTV Viewers Benefit From Partnership With Meridian’s Village Cinema

Idaho Public Television has once again teamed up with Village Cinema and The Village at Meridian to present a free public screening of a PBS Masterpiece premiere. This season it was the opening episode of Poldark, Season 3.

Poldark fans pose with their favorite Masterpiece hero before the screening

It came as no surprise to IdahoPTV staff that when they announced a September 18 screening from the new season of Poldark (which airs on IdahoPTV beginning October 1), they filled two entire theaters at Village Cinema and generated a waiting list, all within three days.

According to Teena Wright, membership director with Idaho Public Television, “These Masterpiece series are hugely fan-based. Many of our viewers have read all the books the series are based on and know every chapter and scene in advance. By hosting a screening in a local movie theater, IdahoPTV is able to bring together our viewers and the community for a fun public event. And thanks to our partnership with Village Cinema and The Village at Meridian, we’re able to present the screenings for free.”

IdahoPTV first teamed up with Village Cinema and The Village at Meridian for a screening from the Masterpiece series Downton Abbey in 2014. The numerous screenings since then have also included creative partnerships with Backstage Bistro, a wine bar and restaurant located upstairs within Village Cinema.

Will Bomar, events manager with Village Cinema, adds, “Backstage Bistro is excited to have worked once again with IdahoPTV, this year adding a special cocktail hour before the event, featuring the fun ‘Poldark and Handsome’ drink.”

Customized menus at Backstage Bistro during the Poldark screening