2005 a stellar year for Warner Bros

SHANGHAI: Warner Bros is ready to pop open the wine and toast to a stellar year in China, especially its subsidiary Warner Bros International Cinemas (WBIC), the No 1 multiplex exhibitor in China.

The world leading cinema chains operator announced its achievements for the first time in China on Friday in Shanghai.

A total of eight cinemas with 67 screens and 14,449 seats are under WBIC's management and supervision in China, including two of those cinemas that opened this year in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province and Guangzhou.

The eight film venues have made it in China's top 50 cinemas list, and seven of them are in its top 30.

On top of this, a significant market share has been gained - more than 35 per cent in most local markets and an impressive 80 per cent in Harbin, capital city of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

Through November, WBIC's box office takings this year in China have reached 107 million yuan (US$13 million), a growth of 81 per cent from last year. The total box office receipts for 2005 are expected to exceed 121 million yuan (US$15 million).

Jon Terence Green Jr, global vice-president in charge of operations of WBIC, attributed this enormous success to WBIC's commitment to China.

"We have a long-term commitment to China and we are ready to grow together with the China film industry. We have brought to China our experience, expertise, and we are lucky enough to enjoy strong relationships with our Chinese partners."

At present WBIC has four Chinese partners including Shenzhen International Trust & Investment Co Ltd, Guangzhou Jin Yi Audio-visual Investment Co and the Shanghai Film Group (SFG). "All these have brought success to our business in China," Green said.

Wang Xiaojun, assistant president of SFG, echoed Green's sentiments: "SFG has many years of experience in the domestic film industry and a penetrating understanding of China's market and audience, while WBIC has internationally advanced business models of construction, management and operations of the multiplex. It was exactly the conformity of the resource and advantages of both sides that promoted this perfect international marriage."

WBIC opened its first China cinema complex called Paradise Warner Cinema City in Shanghai in early 2002, which has been the No 1 cinema in China in box office receipts.

"The leverage of both international expertise and local resource have proved to be the key to success in China market," Green said. "We are committed to our Chinese partners to grow together with them in the China market."

WBIC is seizing to capitalize in the box-office boom in the country. Six new theatres are already scheduled to open in Chongqing, Changsha, Beijing, Nanchang, Xiamen and Shenzhen. Green said he hopes Beijing film lovers will welcome the Warner Bros cinema in June 2006.

Source: China Daily