Australian cinema sales house Val Morgan Cinema Advertising is
beefing up its embryonic UK operation to become the first serious
challenger to Pearl & Dean and Carlton.
Paul Butler, general manager for Europe and the Middle East, confirmed
last week that the company is looking for sales staff. It has only two
UK staff and sub-contracts sales to Pearl & Dean.
Val Morgan entered the market alongside Australian cinema chain Hoyts,
which opened 13 screens at the Bluewater shopping mall in Kent in
June.
Three other sites are on the cards, although the extent to which Hoyts
will commit to the UK has recently come into question following its
takeover by Australian media mogul Kerry Packer’s Consolidated Press
Holdings in August. Packer is believed to want the group to concentrate
on its interests Down Under.
But Butler said Val Morgan was determined to break into the market. ’It
depends on how quickly our business builds up, but it is our intention
to become a major player in the UK,’ he said. ’As well as Hoyts, we
handle a number of other exhibitors worldwide. The business is growing.’
