Figures released by Carlton Screen Advertising last week reveal that as many as 6.2 million cinema tickets, up were sold in the Republic in the first half of this year. This would represent a rise of 13% in attendance. Admissions in the North were up 18% on last year with a total of 2 million. The high attendance has been helped by strong releases such as 'Titanic', which broke box office records, 'Good Will Hunting', 'As Good as It Gets' and 'Scream 2'
Advertising expenditure in the cinema rose by 38% in the first six months to £1.83 million. The top spending cinema brands for the period were reported to be Guinness Stout, Budwesier, Bulmers, Aer Lingus and Levi jeans. The top spending agencies according to Carlton were AIM Media, Young Advertising, Arks, Irish International and Mediaworks.
Investment in the cinema business is booming. New multiplexes have opened adding an additional 23 screens; six new screens in Cork; four screen in Longford; seven in Ballymena and six in Athlone. Further complexes are planned for Sligo, Kilkenny, Dundalk, Ennis, Navan, Newry and Newtownards. Ten years ago, there were 145 cinema screens in the Republic. By the end of next year, there will be 300 in the Republic and another 125 in the North.
The Sunday Business Post has reported that Virgin is expanding it's cinema business in Ireland. The Company recently spent £1 million upgrading its facilities at the Parnell Centre in Dublin and is planning a further four or five cinemas in Ireland. In the Republic the company is thought be looking at one more site in Dublin at least. In Northern Ireland, where the company already operates a multiplex in Belfast, Virgin hopes to have a second location near the east coast. Also the South African company Ster Kinekor is investing in Ireland with a 16 screen complex that is being built at Quarryvale in the Dublin suburb of Clondalkin.
Michael McMahon 13/8/98
