Film distributors block affordable cinema tickets
As the cinema price war hots up, Ster-Kinekor is blaming Nu Metro Film Distribution for blocking the showing of its latest movie releases at its cut-price R14 Ster-Kinekor Junction chain. Movies released by Ster-Kinekor Product distribution and UIP (including movies from Universal, Paramount and DreamWorks) are still all at the R14 ticket price, dispite erroneous media reports today, Monday.
Cinema Group Ster-Kinekor announced at the weekend that they will be not be showing new movies from the Warner International and Fox studios (represented in South Africa by Nu Metro Film Distribution) at its Ster-Kinekor Junction sites as the distributor - Nu Metro Film Distribution - is charging film rentals that effectively do not allow Ster-Kinekor to sell tickets for R14 at all Ster-Kinekor Junction cinemas.
Ster-Kinekor has the backing of the other major studio groups: Buena Vista International and Sony Pictures (represented in South Africa by Ster-Kinekor Product Distribution); and Universal, Paramount and DreamWorks (represented by UIP), to release all their films at the R14 ticket price at Ster-Kinekor Junction cinemas.
Said Ferdi Gazendam, Ster-Kinekor Films CEO: "It is very disappointing that the actions of Nu Metro Film Distribution are effectively preventing us from offering consumers an affordable and magical movie experience."
"We tested the Ster-Kinekor Junction cinema project for two years with the backing of all the studios, including those represented by Nu Metro Film Distribution, so it is a bit surprising for them to block the initiative as we roll it out on a much wider scale."
"Over the past three weeks we have reluctantly shown movies distributed by Nu Metro Film Distribution at our Ster-Kinekor Junction cinemas at the R35 ticket price, whilst renegotiating with them. We cannot continue to do so as we are determined to offer consumers movies for R14 at Ster-Kinekor Junction as promised."
As a result, Ster-Kinekor will not be showing the following films at its Junction cinemas: Be Cool, Robots or Miss Congeniality 2. All other new movies distributed by Ster-Kinekor Product Distribution and UIP will be screened as normal at Ster-Kinekor Junction and Ster-Kinekor Classic and include: The Flyer, Spongebob Squarepants, and Ladies In Lavender. Be Cool , Robots and Miss Congeniality 2 will be screened at Ster-Kinekor Classic sites at the normal ticket price of R35.
The 30 Ster-Kinekor Junction cinemas nationwide were launched on 18 March 2005 offering, for the first time, a high quality, memorable and affordable cinema experience to all South Africans. Tickets are priced at R14. Ster-Kinekor Junction is the 'value cinema' chain of Ster-Kinekor Films, the filmed entertainment subsidiary of Primedia Ltd. Ster-Kinekor Films also houses Ster-Kinekor classic cinemas.
Following on this cut price move just before the long weekends, end-March, Nu Metro followed suit, slashing prices to R12 a ticket while warning that the move was not sustainable long term.
