AMC, Regal Cinemas under federal investigation

HOUSTON –  Two of the country's largest movie chains are under federal investigation, for preventing smaller, rival theaters from getting their hands on certain films.

It's a practice known as "film clearances."

That's when big chains tell movie studios they won't show show certain films if competing smaller theaters are also allowed to show them.

Houston theater company "Viva Cinemas" first accused AMC and Regal cinemas of doing this back in April, and said the practice put them out of business.