Traditionally delivered entertainment continues strong: Not just with TV, but theatrical movies keep growing too.
The Motion Picture Association of America said worldwide box office
revenues grew 6% in 2012 to $34.7 billion. Theatrical business in the U.S. and Canada was up 6% to a new annual record of $10.8 billion. For countries not in the U.S/Canada, television also went
higher, rising 7% from $23.9 billion from $22.4 billion.
One of the biggest changes: China is now the second-largest market after the U.S. -- pulling in $2.7 billion, a 36% gain versus
2011. China surpasses Japan as the second-largest territory.
Considering all economic problems in Europe in 2012, all European countries fared well -- just slipping 1% in total box
office to $10.7 billion in 2012
Theatrical movie business has long counted on frequent young movie customers, especially those who see movies at least once a month. (Frequent moviegoers
account for 57% of tickets.) Those customers continue to grow: 18-24 customers were up to 8.7 million from 6.6 million; 25-39 rose to 9.9 million from 9.7 million. Older movie consumers also
increased: Frequent moviegoers 40 to 49 amounted to 5.8 million, up from 3.3 million in 2011.
In 2012, the U.S. bucked a general trend over the past several years of a declining number of
actual admissions. In 2012, there were 1.36 million admissions versus 1.28 million in 2011.
Movie studios' highly touted 3D films of a few years back continue to shrink -- down to 36
releases in 2012 from 45 in 2011. Revenues for this category were flat at $1.8 million versus 2011.
New digital screens are growing. Now over two-thirds of the world’s nearly 130,000
cinema screens are digital. In the U.S., digital screens now account for 83% of movie screens.