• The SM Group’s entertainment solutions company plans to build stand-alone theaters in the provinces
• SMLEI has identified possible 44 locations for its community theaters dubbed as Blink Cinema
• Each Blink Cinema branch will have two theaters with a seating capacity of 100 per theater
The SM Lifestyle and Entertainment, Inc. (SMLEI), the entertainment solutions company of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., plans to build stand-alone cinemas in remote areas in the country.
A Rappler article dated February 11, 2016 said that according to SMLEI president Edgar Tejerero, SMLEI had identified 44 possible locations for its community theaters; most of which are in third to fifth class municipalities in provinces like Romblon, Samar, Masbate and Marinduque.
Tejerero said they plan to build three to five theaters, dubbed as Blink Cinema, this year. Each Blink Cinema branch, he said, will have two theaters with a seating capacity of 100 each. Each branch will have a floor area of 600 to 800 square meters.
The Blink Cinemas, aimed to serve patrons who reside far from malls, will show current movies that are simultaneously airing with SM Cinemas in Metro Manila.
“There are a lot of areas where we cannot put up any more malls because it’s too small or logistics won’t allow it so we decided to put up countryside cinemas,” Tejerero said.
“Designed to reach patrons who do not have near access to in-mall activities, the stand-alone theaters will release current films simultaneously airing with Metro Manila branches at an estimated price of P120 per head,” he added.
The community theaters could also be rented out as a venue for neighborhood, school and corporate events.
Tejerero said the plan is to build up to 44 Blink Cinemas over the next three years through franchising. He said there are already 12 interested parties under evaluation.
“We will be using the franchise model since it’s hard for us to bring these types of cinemas to the provinces. We will simply pass on whatever standard we have to the franchise owner,” he said.
The SMLEI president said potential franchisees would be offered a “nice payback.”
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