Cineworld revenues given 3D boost

Total sales for the 42 weeks ending 21 October were up 8.5 per cent, when compared with the same period the previous year, with box office takings ahead by 8.3 per cent.

This compares favourably to its results for the first half of 2010, which saw revenues up 3.8 per cent to 162m and box office takings up 4.1 per cent to 111.7m.

The company, which has 801 screens, said it had enjoyed "a healthy performance since the end of June", boosted by popular 3D films such as Shrek Forever After and Toy Story 3.

The company said it grew its UK box office market share from 23.8% to 24.5 per cent in the year to date.

It also reported strong growth in revenues from booking fees, sales of 3D glasses and on-screen advertising, which was making "encouraging progress compared to the prior year".

It plans to install a further 150 digital projectors by the end of January, by which time more than 50 per cent of its 801 screens will be able to play digital movies, with the vast majority capable of playing 3D movies.

The final quarter of the financial year has a promising film line-up, including Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows 1 (in 2D), Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader" and "Tron".

"The remaining 2010 film line-up together with our strong performance to date gives us confidence in delivering continued growth for the full year at least in line with market expectations," it added.

Its performance in 2011 will be boosted by a new contract won by its joint venture screen advertising business, Digital Cinema Media, from Vue Entertainment, which will commence in January.

It also claimed the line-up for 2011 looked to be strong, with 3D releases of "Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Tintin.