Ster-Kinekor relaunches its movie subscription fee club countrywide.

by Thinus Ferreira

Sterk-Kinekor has expanded and relaunched its monthly movies subscription club countrywide which allows subscribers to go to the cinema for a fixed monthly fee.

Sterk-Kinekor's SK Subscription Club that launched in May 2019 just before the Covid-19 pandemic, is different from the cinema chain's existing SK Club which is its loyalty programme, unlocking rewards and discounts.

When Ster-Kinekor's subscription club launched in mid-2019 it was only available at the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Somerset Mall and the Garden Route Mall, but is now available everywhere. Ster-Kinekor has however increased the price for both subscription options from when it launched. 

The SK Subscription Club comes with two options - a limited or unlimited number of movies per month for a fixed fee, with the benefits of the SK Club folded into the subscription fee.

Sker-Kinekor's limited subscription option is called the "Fan Club" and now costs R269 per month. It launched at R249. 

For R269 per month, this includes four movie tickets per month which could be for any standard 2D or 3D film at a Ster-Kinekor cinema. A 20% discount on a regular cooldrink and popcorn combo is included in the deal.

Sker-Kinekor's unlimited subscription option is called the "Morvies Club" and now costs R389 per month. It launched at R349 per month in 2019.

The R389 per month includes an unlimited number of movie tickets per month - but limited to 5 tickets per day - for any standard 2D or 3D film. A 20% discount on a regular cooldrink and popcorn combo is included in the monthly subscription fee.

"The concept behind the SK Subscription Club is to benefit and reward our loyal customers who love the big screen cinema experience, who love watching movies as they were made to be seen, and those who frequent our cinemas on a regular basis," says Lynne Wylie, Ster-Kinekor's chief marketing officer.

"While the Fan Club membership is great for families, couples or friends, the unlimited Morvies Club subscription offers even more savings and benefits to customers who just love going to the cinema," she says.

"In the next few months, movie lovers can expect a slate of fantastic movie titles launching on the big screen. Joining the SK Subscription Club will enable cinemagoers to enjoy all these great cinema moments at their greatest, every month, at a great price."

Film titles over the next few months include Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3; Fast & Furious 10; Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse; Transformers: Rise of the Beasts; The Flash; Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny; Hypnotic; Kandahar; Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One; The Little Mermaid; Love Again; Barbie and Book Club: The Next Chapter.  

Ster-Kinekor confirms its adjusted 2021 movie slate: Promises Tom Cruise in Top Gun and Mission Impossible 7, the 9th Fast & Furious and that elusive Bond.

by Thinus Ferreira

While South African cinemas struggle to lure back moviegoers, Ster-Kinekor has confirmed its adjusted film release slate for 2021 that will include Tom Cruise's Top Gun and Mission Impossible return, the 9th tyre-burning Fast & Furious, the reboot Dune sci-fi spectacle and just maybe that long-stalled next 007 movie.

Ster-Kinekor that entered business rescue in January says that it is "massively excited for the upcoming slate of Hollywood blockbusters whilst cinemas continue to dole out much-needed doses of escapism".

Ster-Kinekor says that nearly 1 million moviegoers in South Africa have visited the cinema since theatres were allowed to open at the end of August 2020 following the Covid-19 shutdown, and according to the cinema chain "the outlook for the remainder of 2021 is positive".

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) last week released its shocking 2020 South African film report, detailing how South Africa's 2020 total box office revenues plunged R1.2 billion to just R214 million compared to 2019 - the lowest in a decade due to the Covid-19 shutdown.

"The Covid-19 vaccine has started to restore consumer confidence and individuals have begun to adapt to the 'new normal' of social distancing and sanitising. As South Africans become more comfortable with resuming out-of-home entertainment activities they have a plethora of top-class cinematic features to look forward to," says Ster-Kinekor.

In its adjusted Hollywood film slate, Ster-Kinekor plans to release the following films this year, although no specific premiere dates are attached yet.

The list includes the notoriously delayed No Time to Die, the 25th James Bond instalment that will be the final turn of Daniel Craig as the British "007" spy. The film's release date has been pushed back multiple times with 8 October 2021 that is the latest date. 

Here is Ster-Kinekor's latest adjusted Hollywood slate for 2021 that it plans to show in South Africa:

Wrath of Man

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

Cruella

A Quiet Place 2

Fast & Furious 9

Black Widow

Top Gun: Maverick

Jungle Cruise

Free Guy

Dune

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

No Time to Die

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Mission Impossible 7

ALSO READ: South Africa's 2020 total box office revenues plunged R1.2 billion to just R214 million compared to 2019 - the lowest in a decade - due to the Covid-19 shutdown.

Veteran M-Net executive Jan du Plessis broadens his portfolio with M-Net's general entertainment channels folded into his existing movies division.

South African TV industry veteran Jan du Plessis has broadened his job responsibility as a director at M-Net, with oversight of M-Net's general entertainment channels that were folded into his existing portfolio of looking after M-Net's movie channels.

Jan du Plessis from this month now also looks after channels like M-Net (DStv 101), M-Net Edge (DStv 102) and a few others, following Gideon Khobane's appointment as new SuperSport CEO and departure.

I'm told Gideon Khobane's specific position as director of M-Net's general entertainment channels was not filled; rather M-Net decided to combine the M-Net series and movie channel clusters in one "division".

This "new" bigger grouping is now headed up by veteran M-Net executive Jan du Plessis who returned from his sabbatical in October last year and who has been the M-Net director for movies since August 2014.

The precise job title of Jan du Plessis, a longtime M-Netter, is now channel director: M-Net general entertainment and movie channels.

Jan du Plessis joined M-Net in 1994 from Sterk-Kinekor where he headed up the acquisition's division, and was previously the head of the M-Net channel, then the director of group content services until that division was shut down and he became director of movies in August 2014.

When M-Net celebrates its 30th anniversary this coming October, Jan du Plessis will have been at M-Net for 22 of those years.