Sunshine, World Cup hits Kinepolis cinema visitor numbers

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian cinema group Kinepolis said its visitor numbers were hit by the good weather and the soccer World Cup in the second quarter, with visitors also spending less on drinks and snacks. Kinepolis said visitor numbers rose 5.5 percent in the first half, but slowed from an 11.2 percent rise in the first quarter. Good weather in Belgium and France, its major markets, and the soccer World Cup keeping people away from cinemas in the April-June period. In-theatre sales per visitor dropped 1.7 percent in the first six months because the group put on more cheaper rate screenings, on Wednesdays in Spain and for younger audiences in France. The group said such audiences generally spend less. Because of these special offers and a lack of higher priced 3D films, live opera and concerts, box office revenues also increased by a smaller rate, of 4.9 percent, than visitor numbers. Recurring core profit (REBITDA) rose by 2.6 percent to 31.4 million euros. (Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek; editing by Philip Blenkinsop)