PRESS RELEASE
Milan, 28 December 2005
The MEDIA Salles’
“European Cinema Yearbook – 2005 advance edition”
at Capri Hollywood 2005
First circulated at the Italian Cinema Worldwide initiative in Beijing
(13-15 December), the MEDIA Salles’ “European Cinema
Yearbook – 2005 advance edition” is today in Italy at the
Festival Capri Hollywood 2005, during a cocktail that will be held at
5 pm at the Sala Pagano of the Hotel La Palma in Capri.
The main results published in this new edition show that the number
of spectators who crossed the threshold of cinemas in Europe and the
Mediterranean Rim in 2004 was one billion, 75 million.
This was an exceptionally good year: 68 million more tickets sold compared
to 2003, with a 6.7% increase.
Western Europe (19 countries, from Iceland to Austria, Portugal to Finland)
continued to have the lion’s share with 962 million spectators
(+5.8% compared to 2003), whilst the 15 countries of Central and Eastern
Europe and the Mediterranean Rim, with 113 million tickets, recorded
the most flattering growth rate: 15.1%.
From the point of view of offer, a fairly similar situation generally
emerges for the whole Area, with an increase of around 1% in screens,
bringing the total to over 32,000.
Of these screens, 10,105 are situated in the multiplexes, that is, according
to the criterion used by MEDIA Salles, in complexes with at least eight
theatres, which grew between the first of January 2004 and the same
date in 2005 from 899 to 978, with an 8.8% increase.
Still not numerous are the screens equipped for digital screening (using
DLP CinemaTM technology) throughout the world (389) but with a strong
increase in Europe during the twelve months between June 2004 and June
2005. They increased in number from 37 to 104, with a growth rate of
181%, decidedly higher than the world average which was 59%. The Old
Continent thus succeeded in equalling North America in terms of digital
screens and in reducing the gap with Asia, where 166 of these screens
had been installed by June 2005.
The cd rom of the “European Cinema Yearbook – 2005 advance
edition”, produced with the support of Cinemeccanica, can be requested
to the MEDIA Salles’ offices, by following the indications on
the website www.mediasalles.it – section “European Cinema
Yearbook and other publications”.
For further information: infocinema@mediasalles.it
MEDIA Salles, a project operating
within the framework of the European Union's MEDIA Programme,
with the support of the Italian Government, fosters
theatrical distribution of European audiovisual products, both by high
profile campaigns involving Europe's cinema exhibitors and by initiatives
to raise the visibility of European productions with industry players
and potential audiences, creating specialized information channels on
a global scale. Thus the current initiatives from MEDIA Salles dovetail
in a program with a triple focus – training, promotion and information
– and maximum combined effect.
The MEDIA Salles’ “European Cinema Yearbook”,
launched in 1992 and now in its fourteenth edition, analyses cinema-going
in 34 European countries by means of over 40 statistical indicators.
It is completed by special sections comparing Europe with 12 important
world markets and showing multiplexes (complexes with at least 8 screens)
in Europe, as well as cinemas throughout the world that are equipped
for digital screening.
MEDIA Salles
Via Soperga, 2 – I-20127 Milan
Tel.: +39.02.66984405 – Fax: +39.02.6691574
E-mail: infocinema@mediasalles.it
Website: www.mediasalles.it
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