Cinema chain sees golden time for silver screen
The Major Cineplex Group will spend almost Bt150 million this year promoting movie going in an attempt to maintain a surge in visits to the big screen.
Between eight to 10 promotions will be organised to boost the company's market share and the overall number of Thais visiting the cinema, said the group's chief Anavach Ongvasith.Last year it spent about Bt100 million on marketing. "We would like to increase the number of visits to the cinema from 1.5 times a month to between two and 2.5 and to make the industry more healthy," said Anavach. He estimated that ticket sales would grow by between 20 and 25 per cent this year. The industry generated Bt4 billion in total ticket sales last year. The growth in cinema industry has been encouraged by a greater variety of Thai and Hollywood blockbusters, said Anavach. Movie going is expected to grow over the next few months because of films like "Spider-Man 3", "Harry Potter 5", "Fantastic Four 2" and "Pirates of the Caribbean 3". The group, which includes Major Cineplex, EGV, Paragon Cineplex and The Esplanade Cineplex, yesterday launched its latest promotional campaign entitled 'Movie Summer Beat' to give away 500 iPod Shuffles to movie-goers. The campaign will run until April 30 and the group expects it to boost ticket sales by more than 1.5 million. Next month the group will re-launch its Major Cineplex in Samrong after major renovation, which has increased the number of screens from five to nine. The group will also re-launch the seven-screen EGV cinema at the Siam Discovery in the next two months. Cinemas at Seacon Square and Pinklao are also being given a facelift. Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn, The Nation
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