12/01/2007

According to Cinetel data, there were 92.2m admissions to Italian cinemas in 2006, a 1.65% rise over 2005. Considering the total among Italian cinemas (Cinetel covers only 85%) approximately 110m admissions can be assumed in total.

This is the result, according to analysis by the Giornale dello Spettacolo (the weekly trade paper of AGIS, an umbrella group for all the associations and organizations that work in the entertainment industry), of a year that saw positive developments in the first half and negative in the second.

December, in particular, which is traditionally decisive for the box office, recorded a 9.07% drop in admissions and the holidays (from the weekend before Christmas to the Epiphany) a 5.39% drop.

Italian films fared better, increasing from 22.5m admissions in 2005 to 23m in 2006, equal to 25% of the overall box office, yet continue to hold steady in terms of market share (in France, domestic films obtained 45% of the total market last year).

Decidedly unfavourable conditions for the Italian market include the lack of summer releases; the frequent lack of respect for worldwide day and date releases; DVD and Internet piracy; and competition from new channels of film distribution.

(Translated from Italian)