Despite the massive influx of 3D films, summer movie attendance has fallen to its lowest level since 1997.
On the other hand, however, 3D, IMAX and standard ticket price hikes have all led to record revenue for the studios and theater chains.
Tickets sold from May through Labor Day are expected to drop 2.6 percent to 552 million, almost as low as 1997’s 540.3 million tickets sold.
“The movies just didn’t excite people the way they needed to,” says Paul Dergarabedian, president of Hollywood.com Box-Office. “When you raise prices and perceive that quality goes down, you have a major problem.”
Revenue will set a record at $4.35 billion, a 2.4 percent jump from last year. The average ticket price will increase 5.1 percent from $7.50 to $7.88, thanks mainly to 3D and IMAX showings which cost $3 more, on average.
Result for: showings
According to DisplaySearch, Sony has jumped ahead in holiday quarter LCD TV sales while Vizio has dropped.
This quarter marks the first time Sony has been on top of LCD sales and DisplaySearch said the lead was built upon “top showings” in the 40-44″, 45-49″ and 50-54″ categories.
Vizio, which has been on top for a few quarters now, fell to third place yet still posted 250 percent growth year over year and kept its share lead in the 37″ HDTV market, selling almost twice as many TVs as the next closest competitor.The market itself remained very close, with Sony leading at 12.8 percent of the market. Samsung was second at 12.3 percent, Vizio followed at 10.7 percent and Sharp rounded out the top four at 8.4 percent.
Sharp fell furthest for the quarter seeing almost flat quarter growth. Sony grew over 80 percent and Samsung grew over 50.
