The world’s digital screens are now over the 4,000 mark, whilst the growth of multiplexes in Europe slows down, following a 2006 that totalled 999 million European spectators (+4.6% compared to 2005).
These are the main results emerging from the sixteenth edition of the European Cinema Yearbook, published by MEDIA Salles, presented this morning, 18 October, in Rome, during the Eurovisioni session at the Italian Parliament, in Rome.

In June 2006 there were 1,354 digital screens throughout the world equipped with DLP CinemaTM technology. Now - at 30 June 2007 - MEDIA Salles “photographs” a figure that has more than tripled: 4,205 with an increase over 12 months that is nearing 211%.
North America’s leap forward is confirmed, claiming 76% of the world’s stock of digital screens, with 3,106 units.

The gap with Europe widens, though the latter also grows by 165%, with an increase from 262 to 694 digital screens, as well as with Asia, the pioneer continent in the adoption of digital technology where, from 2006 to 2007, the figures have remained almost unchanged (from 309 to 360 screens).

Still on the subject of infrastructures, the MEDIA Salles European Cinema Yearbook documents the situation of multiplexes – complexes with at least 8 screens – in Europe: between 1 January 2006 and 1 January 2007 the figure rose from 1,031 to 1,081, for a total of respectively 11,072 and 11,612 screens. The growth trend is confirmed but at a slower rate: +4.9% compared to the +5.4% of the previous twelve months.

2006 is a positive year in terms of audiences, too, which touch on the one billion mark (+4.6% compared to 2005) in the 34 countries recorded in the Yearbook.

The 19 countries of Western Europe reveal an average increase of around 2.6% in the number of tickets sold, from 833.3 to 855.2 million.
Central-Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean Rim obtain decidedly flattering overall results and record admissions growing by 20.6%. Audiences thus rise from 94.4 to 113.8 million.

A better year than 2005, then, but not for everyone. Of the 5 leading European markets, France (188 million spectators, +8.3% compared to 2005) and Germany (136.7 million spectators, +7,4%) register growth.
Italy remains stable with 102.4 million spectators. The United Kingdom (156.6 million spectators, -4.9%) and Spain (123.5 million spectators, -3.2%) record a drop.