Poles go for traditional cinemas

Data from the Central Statistical Office show that the share of multiplex cinemas in the market fell from 58.1 percent in 2012 to 55.2 percent in 2013 (cinemas with eight auditoriums or more). The highest increase of customers was noted in so-called miniplexes (three to seven auditoriums) and the smallest cinemas (one or two auditoriums). A pattern can clearly be seen: Poles go for smaller cinemas. However, most of the tickets were sold for three biggest cinema chains (Multikino, Helios and Cinema City) which own cinemas of various sizes. Nevertheless, the future seems to belong to smaller companies, financed by local governments, such as Silesia Film. This company currently operates five cinemas. In 2011 only 166,600 tickets were sold, but in 2012 the chain noted a 10% growth to 177,900 people. Tomasz Jagiełło, Helios CEO, told Parkiet that the demand of the viewers hadn't changed and it is only the supply that varies. "More and more cinemas show movies two or three weeks after the premiere," he said.