Harry Potter

Growth in cinema attendances on the back of releases such as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix prompted Cineworld to forecast 2007 earnings at the top end of expectations, adding that it had increased its UK market share.

Cineworld, which listed in May last year, said 2008 had started strongly and that the outlook was promising, with upcoming film franchises including Batman, Harry Potter, Star Trek, James Bond and Indiana Jones.

Shares in Cineworld tumbled last month after it revealed ITV's Carlton Screen Advertising wanted to renegotiate its screen-advertising sales contract, worth about £20m a year.

Yesterday's trading update, in which Cineworld said talks with CSA continued, saw the shares recover 23¼p, or nearly 22 per cent, to 130p. The group floated at 170p and peaked in the summer at 220p.

Box office takings at UK cinemas were up 6.9 per cent, according to Nielsen EDI, and Cineworld admissions at continuing sites rose 4.8 per cent.

Its market share rose from 23.5 per cent to 23.7 per cent, behind Odeon, the market leader. Consensus earnings forecast for 2007 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation is £51m.

Cineworld opened a new outlet in Oxfordshire last year, bringing its estate to 73 and 758 screens. It plans to add two more in 2008 - in High Wycombe and Haverhill - and a further two are scheduled to open next year.

After signing a deal with Read-D to introduce digital technology to some of its screens, Cineworld screened Beowulf in 3-D in November and hoped to release other films in this format, claiming its impact would compare with the move from black and white to colour. Steve Wiener, chief executive, said: "The deal will revolutionise the cinema experience for moviegoers."

Cazenove, Cineworld's broker, said in a note that with ticket prices up about 3 per cent, it estimated full-year box office growth at 8 per cent, reflecting a very weak market over December. However, it estimated box office takings for the first two weeks of the financial year up 30 per cent on the same period last year.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - December 27, 2007) - Peanut Labs, Inc., provider of unmatched Gen-Y sample for market researchers, today released the results of its latest survey tracking Gen-Y trends, both at the box office and on TV at the end of 2007, while also examining the adoption of new year's resolutions among America's influential 13-25 year olds.

Overall, Warner Bros. Pictures is positioned well for 2008, possessing two of the most anticipated movies and on TV, "The Simpsons" will likely continue their successful run. Additionally, the television writers' strike has not had an enormous effect on Gen-Y television consumption. Lastly, younger Americans still embrace new year's resolutions, with the vast majority of Gen-Y indicating they do indeed plan to have a new year's resolution in 2008.

Hottest Movie of 2008

* Of leading films to be released in 2008, Warner Bros. Pictures' "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" tops Gen-Y's most anticipated list. Warner Bros. Pictures possess two of the top seven most anticipated films, with "Dark Knight," the next chapter in the Batman franchise, also noted as an anticipated movie.
* Paramount Pictures' "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" captured the number two spot on Gen-Y's list of anticipated movies.

Hottest Movies and TV of 2007

* This year, "Transformers" edged out "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" as Gen-Y's favorite movie.
* Overall, 41 percent of Gen-Y thought that 2007's blockbusters had improved over 2006, a positive sign for movie studios, with 42 percent indicating no change in quality.
* On the small screen, Fox's "The Simpsons" is 2007's most popular TV program, followed by ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and NBC's "Heroes."
* With respect to reality television, the CW's "America's Next Top Model" was Gen-Y's favorite, followed by Fox's "American Idol."

Gen-Y and the Writers' Strike

* 58 percent of Gen-Y admits to watching "about the same amount" of TV since the writers' strike began.
* The strike has not driven an increase in the amount of online videos Gen-Y watches, with 47 percent indicating they have not watched more with the strike in place.

New Year's Resolutions

* Only 10 percent of Gen-Y does not plan on having a new year's resolution for 2008, down sharply from 39 percent in 2007.
* The leading resolution amongst Gen-Y is to "get fit" -- exercising more and eating healthier.
* Gen-Y also appears to be fiscally responsible, as the second most popular is "saving money."
* Some 38 percent indicate they were able to achieve their new year's resolutions in 2007, in which the leading resolution was also getting fit.

"Given Gen-Y's influence in anointing movie and TV hits, it appears Warner Bros. Pictures has a lot to look forward to as Harry Potter captures the big screen again in 2008," said Murtaza Hussain, chief executive officer at Peanut Labs. "As we move into 2008, shows like 'The Simpsons' will remain popular regardless of new episodes, since the writers' strike has not had a drastic effect on Gen-Y's TV habits."

The survey, carried out among 1175 Gen-Y respondents active on leading social networks, examined Gen-Y's preferred movies, TV shows and resolutions heading into 2008. For more information or a copy of the complete results, please contact Peanut Labs.