South African cinema is fighting back against video streaming services with Ster-Kinekor that is launching an all-you-can-watch movie subscription service.
The South African box-office is investing more in and building out its luxury movie-going experience segment alongside creating strategies for stronger return-again behaviour.
This comes as "going to the cinema" is under siege from the growing avalanche of video streaming services, live weekend entertainment and sport events, and traditional pay-TV upping and expanding its weekend content offering as well, with all of them making inroads on consumers' time and pockets.
Similar to the moviegoing subscription services MoviePass and AMC Theatres's Stubs A-List in the United States that just passed 800 000 members, Ster-Kinekor is launching its Ster-Kinekor MORvies Club allowing a cinema-goer unlimited movies tickets per month for the price of R349 per month.
A lower-tiered subscription service, Ster-Kinekor Fan Club, will cost R249 per month, offering 4 movie tickets per month.
Ster-Kinekor currently operates 55 commercial cinema complexes in South Africa, with seven international sites based in Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Ster-Kinekor MORvies Club allows a subscriber 5 movie tickets per day, a 20%-discount on a medium popcorn and cooldrink. Ster-Kinekor MORvies Club will initially only be rolled out at the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Somerset Mall and the Garden Route Mall.
Up to five 2D or 3D movie tickets per day can be used but excludes premium showings like IMAX, D-BOX, Cine Prestige and special events. Members are not allowed to make multiple ticket purchases for the same session and can't buy tickets for someone else. "Only the registered member can use the card allocated to them and no other person or third party," says Ster-Kinekor.
Ster-Kinekor Fan Club, at a subscription fee of R249 per month, allows for 4 movie tickets per member, as well as a 20%-discount on a medium popcorn and cooldrink. Ster-Kinekor Fan Club will initially be available at the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Watercrest Mall, and I’Langa Mall.
The Ster-Kinekor Fan Club tickets will be valid for 2D and 3D movies but will exclude premium showings such as IMAX, D-BOX, Cine Prestige and special events.
"Ster-Kinekor, the largest movie exhibitor on the African continent, is premiering South Africa's first ever movie subscription club so movie fans can watch all the hottest new releases and save big," says the company.
