Cinema operators to expand upcountry
In light of an estimated 15-per-cent spurt in the film industry this year, Major Cineplex Group and SF are continuing their aggressive cinema-expansion plans to tap potential upcountry after Bangkok likely faces saturation.
SF president Suwat Thongrompo said it had earmarked about Bt800 million for 30-40 new theatres in five provinces: Suphan Buri, Ubon Ratchathani, Maha Sarakham, Surat Thani and Udon Thani.
SF currently runs more than 260 cinemas across the country – 126 in Bangkok and more than 100 in other provinces – under different brands, namely SF World Cinema, SFX Cinema and SF Cinema City. It also has SF Strike Bowl and SF Music City. Of the total, 30 per cent are digital theatres.
There is more room to grow upcountry, Suwat explained after his company witnessed the saturation of cinema supply among the capital’s more than 11 million residents.
He also said the company had no plans to raise ticket prices this year though shopping centres had jacked up their lease rates by an average of 15 per cent each year.
SF is studying the feasibility of a multibillion-baht project related to entertainment and movies, on which it expects to release the details soon.
“We hope to see a 20-per-cent increase in this year’s revenue from Bt2 billion last year because the company will realise full-year revenue from two new flagship cinema complexes at Terminal 21 and CentralPlaza Grand Rama 9,” Suwat said.
Overall, the cinema business is expected to enjoy a 15-per-cent year-on-year revenue surge from 2011’s Bt6 billion. Of that, about Bt4 billion was in Bangkok and the rest upcountry.
The country’s largest cinema operator, Major Cineplex Group, is also keen on expansion this year.
Vicha Poolvaraluck, chairman of the group, said he planned to add at least 50 screens in locations including Mega Bangna and Seacon Square 2 in Bangkok, valued at Bt500 million, on top of the 368 it operates now.
Vicha said 2012 would be another strong year thanks to a strong schedule of Hollywood blockbusters and Thai movies, the latter including “King Naresuan 5” and “Tom Yum Goong 2”. So Major Cineplex Group expects to enjoy 20-per-cent revenue growth.
Meanwhile local filmmakers have improved the quality of their movies to attract more ticket receipts, which now represent about 50 per cent of industry revenue while major US film producers enjoy 35 per cent.
As for new expansion in India, Vicha said the group was set to invest Bt100 million in new 50 screens and 100 bowling lanes this year.
