UAE cinema operators can expect box office revenues to slump by nearly 80 percent during Ramadan as attendances drop and film distributors shelf new releases until after the holy month, figures from 2012 have shown.
Figures from Italia Films in Dubai reveal that last year UAE cinema ticket sales slumped 78 percent month-on-month during the four weeks of the holy month. Total box office earnings fell to AED11,040,176.50 ($3,005,765) during Ramadan, compared to AED51,785,160 ($14,098,873) for the previous four weeks.
The main reason behind low attendances is distributors’ reluctance to release movies during the holy month.
This is backed up by the fact that as soon as new blockbusters were launched during the Eid weekend to mark the end of Ramadan, UAE cinema attendances and box offices takings skyrocketed back up.
via ArabianBusiness.com.
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