Major Cineplex is providing three more ticket distribution channels for movie lovers – IVR (interactive voice response) via cell phone, the Internet, and MCash kiosk.

Effective from November 1, Panithan became president of Major Cinead, Major Cineplex Group's wholly owned subsidiary and provider of media services to business clients.

"We will keep up our strength as a total entertainment provider and cinema will be only part of our business portfolio," Kittsanan Ngamphathipong, CEO of Major Cineplex Group, said yesterday.

"We will head ourselves towards people's lifestyles."

The arrival of Panithan is expected to help Major sell screen adverts and to customise one-to-one marketing and interactive communications services for corporate customers.

"We would like to create a new media platform for business clients in communicating with their customers," Kittsanan said, adding that Panithan made fast-food fried chicken chain KFC successful in the local market.

Major Cineplex Group chairman Vicha Poolvaraluck said the group's media-service business was expected to generate sales of Bt600 million this year, up 15 per cent from last year.

"With the reshuffle, we expect to grow our media business by 30 per cent next year," said Vicha, who has known Panithan for almost 16 years.

"We would like to utilise our assets and create new value from them. We also have a strong customer base of young adults who have modern lifestyles and the habit of eating out."

Major Cineplex Group posted a third-quarter net profit of Bt189 million, up 20 per cent over the same quarter last year, on revenues of Bt1.3 billion.

Its nine-month net profit increased 43 per cent to Bt578 million on revenues of Bt3.8 billion. It expects full-year revenues to reach Bt5.5 billion.

Vicha said the board was quite satisfied with the third-quarter results amid many uncertainties, both political and economic.

"We are quite confident in the new movie line-up for this quarter including 'James Bond 007 Casino Royale', 'Eragon' and 'King Naresuan'," he said, adding that the release schedule for both local and Hollywood blockbusters next year was also quite strong.

Set to be screened next year are "Spider Man 3", "Pirates of the Caribbean 3", "Fantastic Four 2", "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", "Ocean 13", "Ong-bak 2", "Nong-Teng Nakleng Pukhao Thong 2" and "Bodyguard 2".

"We expect our ticket sales next year to grow by 15 to 20 per cent, while our bottom line is expected to grow by 30 per cent," Vicha said.

The group will open a 100,000-square metre Esplanade Cineplex on Ratchadaphisek Road, featuring major entertainment magnets such as 12 movie screens, a 22-lane bowling alley, ice-skating rink and 5,000-square metre California WOW fitness centre.

"We expect to open 40 more screens next year, including in Pattaya, Imperial Samrong shopping centre and Kaset-Navamin Road," he said.

Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn

The Nation