PLYMOUTH graphic and web design business Juice Media Design Ltd sees its future up on the silver screen — with plans to show sports events and even live theatre in cinemas.

The Tamar Science Park-based firm is in talks with major TV companies and the Vue cinema chain about screening sport.

But company boss Neil Harvey said there were 'stumbling blocks' in the way of sports streaming.

"You want to go with your mates," explained Mr Harvey, "but a cinema isn't like a pub."

Instead, he said, he saw more potential for showing live theatre, including blockbuster musicals, in cinemas.

"I'm thinking streaming theatre shows from New York or Paris could be the way ahead," Mr Harvey said.

Juice Media Design is already involved with Vue after making big-screen adverts for the Tamar Science Park and for Plymouth firms LTC Scaffolding and private hire taxi operator Silverline.

Its 10-second ads have generated interest from around the country, as Juice Media can make them to be shown anywhere in the Vue chain.

"We've had companies in Glasgow and Tyne and Wear contact us," he said.

"Juice Media is now one of the fastest- growing brokers of cinema advertising in the South West. We can do national campaigns or local campaigns."

Mr Harvey, whose links with the movie industry go back five years to when he raised finance for major films via his London investment business, said a cinema such as Plymouth's Vue could attract up to 25,000 people a week.

Once he made the link with Vue he began to think about other projects. "As a result of working with Vue I approached heads of sport at ITV, BBC and Sky to broker a deal between them and Vue to license sports events," he said.

Juice Design and Media is a multifaceted firm, building websites, offering marketing services, concentrating on bespoke campaigns and even installing Bluetooth devices in taxis and buses.

Mr Harvey said people were always craving a new experience and watching events on a large screen, with others, could 'add value'.

But then there were those stumbling blocks. "Sport is a more atmosphere experience," he said. "Potentially it could work, but I think cinemas are more interested in the theatre experience.

"I think there could be the potential to stream live theatre, and potentially festivals. We can stream live shows from New York or Paris.

He said bringing a major production such as Les Miserables to a screen in Plymouth, for instance, would be 'phenomenal' and 'provide the cinema with a funding stream they lack'.

However, another hurdle was that broadcasters wanted people 'on seats at home', while cinemas wanted them in their venues.

But, he said: "It's worth the conversation."