27/01/2003

Ster Century, the South African cinema operator is selling its seven multiplex sites in the UK and Ireland as part of a general strategy to move out of European exhibition sector. Last year, the group sold its main European assets in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Greece, and is planning to close another two sites in Spain. Only one multiplex will remain in Slovakia.
Ster Century said its market share in the UK and Ireland rose from 1.9 per cent to 2.5 per cent in 2002 and its Liffey Valley Cinema in Dublin is one of their top five film theatres in the UK and Irish markets with 1.7 million tickets sold last year.
The UK's leading film exhibitors are Odeon (99 sites/614 screens), Warner Village (42 sites/405 screens) UGC (42 sites/403 screens), and UCI (40 sites/403 screens).