France's UGC trumps exhib rivals

Exhib nabs 70% attendance growth due to pass

By SOPHIE NICHOLSON

PARIS -- UGC, France's leading exhibitor, has widened the gap over its direct competitors thanks to its controversial unlimited-entry pass.

In the Paris region, attendance rose 11% in 2000, with UGC, seeing 70% of the total growth, increasing its market share from 36% to 40%.

Statistics released by France's national film center (CNC) revealed that half of all Paris theaters offer unlimited-entry passes.

Gaumont, France's No. 2 exhib, which developed its own pass, caught up some lost ground on UGC, increasing its share of Paris attendance from 21% to 24%.

Across the board, indie exhibitors and small chains lost several percentage points of market share.