Giants make room for dwarfs on cinema market
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
14.08.2014 09:27
After years of popularity of multiplex cinemas, Poles seem to be returning to the smaller, more traditional ones to get their entertainment.
photo - Glow Images/East News
Trends on the Polish cinema market are changing, according to the latest data published by the Central Statistical Office.
The share of the largest, multiplex cinemas has declined from 58.1 percent in 2012 to 55.2 percent last year.
Smaller cinemas are slowly gaining ground. Those with three to seven screens now have 30 percent of the market, compared to 27.4 percent in 2012.
The smallest venues, with one or two screens, have increased their market share from 14.5 percent to 14.8 percent. This translates into some 100,000 viewers more year-to-year.
The upward trend is also visible in the number of smaller cinemas. In 2013 there were 58 of the smallest ones in Poland, compared to 51 in 2012 and just 6 in 2001.
The number of medium-sized venues grew to 356 last year after years of a gradual drop. Between 2001 and 2012 their number declined from 639 to 345.
As the Rzeczpospolita daily writes, the trend reflects changes in the habits of Polish cinema-goers. People are no longer fascinated with what large cinemas can offer. They prefer lower prices, fewer commercials and a more select repertoire that only the smaller players can offer. (kw/pg)