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Big cinemas in Shanghai have become big profit makers with box office exceeding 10,000 yuan (US$1,200) per seat a year.
The Kodak Super Movie World, a 930-seat cinema located in Xujiahui district, has earned more than 10 million yuan in box-office income since it opened nine months ago.
The Huanyi Cinema on Nanjing West Road earned 16 million yuan last year, with the per seat income topping 15,000 yuan.
The total box-office income of all cinemas in Shanghai reached 130 million yuan in 2001.
In contrast, small and medium-sized cinemas have witnessed sluggish business in recent years, and some can only keep operating by letting their premises out for stage performances.
However, experts predicted the total income of cinemas in Shanghai will continue to grow at an annual rate of 15 percent in the near future.
"Now that China has entered the World Trade Organization, cinemas in Shanghai will have access to more foreign movies, which is expected to bring increasing profits to the cinema industry," said Chen Yongwen, manager of the Kodak Super Movie World.
There are currently seven large cinemas in Shanghai, and another 10 will be built or reconstructed within the coming two years.
(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2002)
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