wowpow
August 16th, 2006, 00:18
MAJOR CINEPLEX EXPANDS - 30 theatres, flagship site to be built - '4-D' cinemas in up to four complexes
The Major Cineplex Group, Thailand's largest operator of multiplex theatres, plans to spend more than Bt800 million next year to open 30 new cinemas in four major locations, including Pattaya.
The group, which currently operates 281 theatre screens in 33 locations, will also introduce its new "4-D" theatres at three or four existing Bangkok complexes, including in Siam Discovery Centre and Seacon Square.
Group CEO Kittsanan Ngamphathipong said the introduction of 4-D theatres would coincide with renovations at some Major Cineplexes in Bangkok.
Chairman Vicha Poolvaraluck said the group recently purchased nearly 2 hectares of land near its Ratchayothin complex for a total of Bt700 million. The land will be developed next year as Major Cineplex's flagship centre - an open-air mall complex - in partnership with Siam Future Development Plc.
He said new entertainment attractions would be featured in the complex, including a supermarket and a library, to suit consumers' trendy lifestyles.
"Despite worries over politics and economic uncertainty, as well as having to share our viewers with the World Cup, we [Major] achieved good results in the second quarter, with ticket sales up 35 per cent from the same quarter last year," said Vicha.
The group achieved total second-quarter revenues of Bt1.38 billion, with a net profit of Bt243 million. First-half revenues were recorded at Bt2.5 billion for a net profit of Bt389 million.
Vicha said the group suffered a "flat period" in ticket sales in the first quarter, particularly in February and March, when consumers were worried about political risks. However, April saw a turn-round. He said the group opened 23 screens at three new locations in the first half of the year, in Bangkok's Siam Paragon shopping complex, on Koh Samui and in Hua Hin.
The company will also open another three new theatre complexes in the second half, in the Esplanade complex on Ratchadaphisek Road, on Chaeng Wattana Road and in Phitsanulok, for a total of 22 screens.
The group will also expand some existing complexes, such as Imperial World Samrong, where the number of screens will be increased from five to 12.
Kittsanan said the group, which currently boasts more than 70,000 theatre seats and serves 400,000-500,000 movie-goers each week, will launch a comprehensive online ticketing service next month, allowing customers to buy their movie tickets online or through their mobile phones. Movie-goers will also be able to make online payments through M-Cash prepaid cards, as well as by credit cards or bank debit cards. He said the new service would cater to nearly 12 million Internet surfers in the Kingdom.
"Our new online service will reshape the behaviour of Thai cinema-goers," said Kittsanan. "In South Korea, about 25 per cent of people buy movie tickets through their mobile phones, while in the US about 40 per cent of movie-goers book tickets through the Internet."
He said the online ticketing service would also increase ticket sales.
Vicha said the group expected ticket sales to grow another 15-20 per cent next year, driven by a good line-up of blockbusters, including "Pirates of the Caribbean 3", "Spider-Man 3", "300", "Rocky", "Ocean's 13", "Fantastic Four 2", "Die Hard: Reset", "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", "10,000 BC" and "Alien versus Predator 2".
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation
The Major Cineplex Group, Thailand's largest operator of multiplex theatres, plans to spend more than Bt800 million next year to open 30 new cinemas in four major locations, including Pattaya.
The group, which currently operates 281 theatre screens in 33 locations, will also introduce its new "4-D" theatres at three or four existing Bangkok complexes, including in Siam Discovery Centre and Seacon Square.
Group CEO Kittsanan Ngamphathipong said the introduction of 4-D theatres would coincide with renovations at some Major Cineplexes in Bangkok.
Chairman Vicha Poolvaraluck said the group recently purchased nearly 2 hectares of land near its Ratchayothin complex for a total of Bt700 million. The land will be developed next year as Major Cineplex's flagship centre - an open-air mall complex - in partnership with Siam Future Development Plc.
He said new entertainment attractions would be featured in the complex, including a supermarket and a library, to suit consumers' trendy lifestyles.
"Despite worries over politics and economic uncertainty, as well as having to share our viewers with the World Cup, we [Major] achieved good results in the second quarter, with ticket sales up 35 per cent from the same quarter last year," said Vicha.
The group achieved total second-quarter revenues of Bt1.38 billion, with a net profit of Bt243 million. First-half revenues were recorded at Bt2.5 billion for a net profit of Bt389 million.
Vicha said the group suffered a "flat period" in ticket sales in the first quarter, particularly in February and March, when consumers were worried about political risks. However, April saw a turn-round. He said the group opened 23 screens at three new locations in the first half of the year, in Bangkok's Siam Paragon shopping complex, on Koh Samui and in Hua Hin.
The company will also open another three new theatre complexes in the second half, in the Esplanade complex on Ratchadaphisek Road, on Chaeng Wattana Road and in Phitsanulok, for a total of 22 screens.
The group will also expand some existing complexes, such as Imperial World Samrong, where the number of screens will be increased from five to 12.
Kittsanan said the group, which currently boasts more than 70,000 theatre seats and serves 400,000-500,000 movie-goers each week, will launch a comprehensive online ticketing service next month, allowing customers to buy their movie tickets online or through their mobile phones. Movie-goers will also be able to make online payments through M-Cash prepaid cards, as well as by credit cards or bank debit cards. He said the new service would cater to nearly 12 million Internet surfers in the Kingdom.
"Our new online service will reshape the behaviour of Thai cinema-goers," said Kittsanan. "In South Korea, about 25 per cent of people buy movie tickets through their mobile phones, while in the US about 40 per cent of movie-goers book tickets through the Internet."
He said the online ticketing service would also increase ticket sales.
Vicha said the group expected ticket sales to grow another 15-20 per cent next year, driven by a good line-up of blockbusters, including "Pirates of the Caribbean 3", "Spider-Man 3", "300", "Rocky", "Ocean's 13", "Fantastic Four 2", "Die Hard: Reset", "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", "10,000 BC" and "Alien versus Predator 2".
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
The Nation