Cinema group Ster-Kinekor says rival Nu Metro Film Distribution has undermined its efforts to show new movies from Warner International and Fox studios cheaply.
Warner International and Fox studios are represented in South Africa by Nu Metro Film Distribution.
Ferdi Gazendam, Ster-Kinekor Films’ chief executive, said he is disappointed that the actions of Nu Metro Film Distribution have effectively prevented Ster-Kinekor from offering titles from those houses at the promised R14 a ticket.
”We tested the Ster-Kinekor Junction cinema project [that offers tickets at R14 a show] for two years with the backing of all the studios, including those represented by Nu Metro Film Distribution, so it is a bit surprising for them to block the initiative as we roll it out on a much wider scale,” Gazendam said.
”Over the past three weeks, we have reluctantly shown movies distributed by Nu Metro Film Distribution at our Ster-Kinekor Junction cinemas at the R35 ticket price whilst renegotiating with them.
”We cannot continue to do so, as we are determined to offer consumers movies for R14 at Ster-Kinekor Junction as promised.”
As a result, Ster-Kinekor will not be showing Be Cool, Robots or Miss Congeniality II at its Ster-Kinekor Junction cinemas.
All other new movies distributed by Ster-Kinekor Product Distribution and United International Pictures (UIP) will be screened as normal at Ster-Kinekor Junction and Ster-Kinekor Classic. They include The Flyer, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and Ladies in Lavender.
Be Cool, Robots and Miss Congeniality II will be screened at Ster-Kinekor Classic sites at the normal ticket price of R35.
Ster-Kinekor said it has the backing of the other major studio groups — Buena Vista International and Sony Pictures (represented in South Africa by Ster-Kinekor Product Distribution); and Universal, Paramount and DreamWorks (represented by UIP) — to show all their films at the R14 ticket price at Ster-Kinekor Junction cinemas. — Sapa