Major Cineplex
Encyclopedia
Major Cineplex Group Public Co. Ltd. is the largest operator of movie theater
s in Thailand
. Combined with its subsidiary, EGV Entertainment, the company has 258 screens in 32 locations. Among its properties is Thailand's largest multiplex, the Paragon Cineplex at Siam Paragon
, with 16 screens and 5,000 seats, along with the country's only IMAX
theater. The second-largest chain in Thailand is SF Cinema City
.
Major Cineplex was founded by Vicha Poolvaraluck (or Poolvoraluck) in 1996. A member of a family with roots in the movie business (the family was involved in film studios as well as several single-screen theaters), Vicha started out in property development.
In 1992, he was asked by his father, Charoen Poolvaraluck, to take over the movie theater business. Vicha decided on a concept of large movie complexes that could offer a range of entertainment services, including not only movies, but also bowling alleys, karaoke
rooms, restaurants and shopping. The first such complex opened in 1996 on Nakhon Chaisri Road in Pinklao, Bangkok
. The 14-screen, 4,000-seat Major Cineplex Ratchayothin
opened in 1998 and featured Thailand's first IMAX
cinema. It was the company's flagship cinema complex until 2006, when Paragon Cineplex
opened. Other early Major Cineplex theaters include branches at Ramkamheang and Sukhumvit
.
In 2004, Major Cineplex absorbed Thailand's No 2 theater operator, EGV Entertainment, which was Thailand's first cineplex operator. EGV had been owned by a rival branch of the Poolvaraluck family, headed by Vicha Poolvaraluck's cousin, Wichai Poolvaraluck, who started EGV as a partnership with Golden Village
.
or Major Cineplex Sukhumvit, that include bowling alleys, fitness centers, restaurants and shops, to multiplexes that are part of larger shopping malls, such as the Bang Na
or Rama III branches in Bangkok
.
At the theaters themselves, there is a range of seating choices, including the luxury "Emperor" class, which is similar to EGV's "Gold Class" (see below), and "Opera", which provides a sofa
-like seat, designed for couples.
In December 2006, the company debuted another flagship brand, the Esplanade Cineplex, consisting of 13 theaters and a 26-lane bowling alley at the Esplanade complex
on Ratchadapisek Road in Bangkok's Din Daeng
district.
Thailand's first cineplex operator, EGV, or Entertain Golden Village, was formed in 1993 by Wichai Poolworaluk's Entertainment Theatres Network as a joint venture with Hong Kong's Golden Harvest
and Australia's Village Roadshow (which formed Golden Village
).
The first cineplex was opened in 1994 at Future Park Bang Khae
. Other branches include the EGV Grand in Siam Discovery Center (opposite Siam Square
) and the EGV Metropolis, which anchors a BigC
shopping center on Rajadamri Road in Pathum Wan
district, Bangkok
, opposite Central World Plaza.
Village Roadshow took over Golden Harvest's stake in 2000, and in 2002, Wichai bought out Village Roadshow's 50% interest. The company then merged with Major Cineplex in 2004, putting aside a rivalry within the Poolvaraluck family.
shopping mall. With 16 screens and 5,000 seats, it is Thailand's largest movie theater. It includes the 1,200-seat Siam Pavalai Royal Grand Theatre as well as some smaller Nokia Ultra Screen theaters with reclining seats. There is also the Enigma, a members-only cinema.
cinema is part of the Paragon Cineplex at Siam Paragon
. It was formerly located at the Major Cineplex Ratchayothin
, Major Cineplex Pinklao.
rooms.
Major's property development arm leases retail space to outside tenants in its anchored shopping malls. Major Cineplex also has a 25% stake in Siam Future Development Plc (SET
: SF), a developer of shopping malls.
The company has also invested in the growing California WOW Xperience Plc (SET: CAWOW), the leading fitness center
operator in Thailand. It has 10 branches: eight in Bangkok, and one each in Pattaya
and Chiang Mai
. It branched off due to foreign ownership rules for the wholly owned Asian subsidiary of 24 Hour Fitness, called California Fitness
, and has member swap agreements with both chains. It holds a 36.75% stake in that venture, and consequently, California's Fitness Center branches are becoming part of Major Cineplex's developments.
In 2007, Major Cineplex's ticketing service, Major Ticketing, which sold advance bookings for movies, as well as other events, merged with BEC-TERO
's Thaiticketmaster. The merged entity is called Thaiticketmajor.
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
s in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. Combined with its subsidiary, EGV Entertainment, the company has 258 screens in 32 locations. Among its properties is Thailand's largest multiplex, the Paragon Cineplex at Siam Paragon
Siam Paragon
Siam Paragon is a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. It is one of the biggest shopping centers in Asia. Opened on December 9, 2005, it includes a wide range of specialty stores and restaurants as well as a multiplex movie theater and the Siam Ocean World...
, with 16 screens and 5,000 seats, along with the country's only IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
theater. The second-largest chain in Thailand is SF Cinema City
SF Cinema City
SF Group is a movie-theater and entertainment-leisure venue operator in Thailand. Behind the combined operations of Major Cineplex and the EGV chain, SF Group is the second-largest theater chain in Thailand, with more than 200 screens in 30 locations.-History:...
.
History
In 1992, he was asked by his father, Charoen Poolvaraluck, to take over the movie theater business. Vicha decided on a concept of large movie complexes that could offer a range of entertainment services, including not only movies, but also bowling alleys, karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
rooms, restaurants and shopping. The first such complex opened in 1996 on Nakhon Chaisri Road in Pinklao, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. The 14-screen, 4,000-seat Major Cineplex Ratchayothin
Major Cineplex Ratchayothin
Major Cineplex Ratchayothin is an entertainment and shopping complex on Phahonyothin Road in Lat Yao subdistrict, Chatuchak district, Bangkok. Operated by Thailand's largest movie-theater chain, Major Cineplex, it has a 14-screen multiplex cinema, a 38-lane bowling alley, karaoke rooms,...
opened in 1998 and featured Thailand's first IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
cinema. It was the company's flagship cinema complex until 2006, when Paragon Cineplex
Siam Paragon
Siam Paragon is a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. It is one of the biggest shopping centers in Asia. Opened on December 9, 2005, it includes a wide range of specialty stores and restaurants as well as a multiplex movie theater and the Siam Ocean World...
opened. Other early Major Cineplex theaters include branches at Ramkamheang and Sukhumvit
Sukhumvit Road
Sukhumvit Road , or Thailand Route 3 , is a major road in Thailand, and a major surface road of Bangkok and other cities it winds through. It follows a coastal route from Bangkok to Trat and is just over in length....
.
In 2004, Major Cineplex absorbed Thailand's No 2 theater operator, EGV Entertainment, which was Thailand's first cineplex operator. EGV had been owned by a rival branch of the Poolvaraluck family, headed by Vicha Poolvaraluck's cousin, Wichai Poolvaraluck, who started EGV as a partnership with Golden Village
Golden Village
Golden Village is a cinema operator based in Singapore which is a joint venture by Golden Harvest of Hong Kong and Village Roadshow of Australia. It operates nine multiplexes and cineplexes in the country including a largest cineplex at VivoCity. It joined hands to open a cinema at Great World...
.
Major Cineplex
There are at least 19 Major Cineplex-branded theaters in Thailand, with the number expected to grow in the coming years. The company aims to increase its total number of screens to 500 (including EGV cinemas) by 2012. Major Cineplex's theaters range from shopping complexes, anchored by the cineplex, such as Major Cineplex RatchayothinMajor Cineplex Ratchayothin
Major Cineplex Ratchayothin is an entertainment and shopping complex on Phahonyothin Road in Lat Yao subdistrict, Chatuchak district, Bangkok. Operated by Thailand's largest movie-theater chain, Major Cineplex, it has a 14-screen multiplex cinema, a 38-lane bowling alley, karaoke rooms,...
or Major Cineplex Sukhumvit, that include bowling alleys, fitness centers, restaurants and shops, to multiplexes that are part of larger shopping malls, such as the Bang Na
Bang Na
Bang Na is one of the fifty districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Its neighbors, clockwise from the north, are the Phra Khanong and Prawet districts of Bangkok, Amphoe Bang Phli, Amphoe Mueang, and Amphoe Phra Pradaeng of Samut Prakan Province.-History:...
or Rama III branches in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
.
At the theaters themselves, there is a range of seating choices, including the luxury "Emperor" class, which is similar to EGV's "Gold Class" (see below), and "Opera", which provides a sofa
Couch
A couch, also called a sofa, is an item of furniture designed to seat more than one person, and providing support for the back and arms. Typically, it will have an armrest on either side. In homes couches are normally found in the family room, living room, den or the lounge...
-like seat, designed for couples.
In December 2006, the company debuted another flagship brand, the Esplanade Cineplex, consisting of 13 theaters and a 26-lane bowling alley at the Esplanade complex
The Esplanade (Bangkok)
The Esplanade is a shopping and entertainment complex on Ratchadaphisek Road in Din Daeng district, Bangkok, with a second branch on Rattanathibet Road in Nonthaburi.-History:Anchored by the Esplanade Cineplex, the shopping mall opened in December 2006...
on Ratchadapisek Road in Bangkok's Din Daeng
Din Daeng
Din Daeng is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Its neighbor, clockwise from north, are Chatuchak, Huai Khwang, Ratchathewi and Phaya Thai.-History:...
district.
EGV
Thailand's first cineplex operator, EGV, or Entertain Golden Village, was formed in 1993 by Wichai Poolworaluk's Entertainment Theatres Network as a joint venture with Hong Kong's Golden Harvest
Golden Harvest
Golden Harvest is a film production, distribution, and exhibition company based in Hong Kong. It played a major role in becoming the first Chinese film company to successfully enter the western market for an extended period of time, especially with the films of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan...
and Australia's Village Roadshow (which formed Golden Village
Golden Village
Golden Village is a cinema operator based in Singapore which is a joint venture by Golden Harvest of Hong Kong and Village Roadshow of Australia. It operates nine multiplexes and cineplexes in the country including a largest cineplex at VivoCity. It joined hands to open a cinema at Great World...
).
The first cineplex was opened in 1994 at Future Park Bang Khae
Bang Khae
Bang Khae is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by other Bangkok districts : Thawi Watthana, Taling Chan, Phasi Charoen, Bang Bon, and Nong Khaem...
. Other branches include the EGV Grand in Siam Discovery Center (opposite Siam Square
Siam Square
Siam Square is a shopping and entertainment area in the Siam District of Bangkok, Thailand. The area connects to other shopping centres and links to the other shopping districts by sky bridge, such as Siam Center/Siam Discovery Center, MBK Center, Siam Paragon, Ratchaprasong shopping district and...
) and the EGV Metropolis, which anchors a BigC
BigC
Big C, or Big C Supercenter , is a grocery and general merchandising retailer headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand. It is the leading hypermarket chain in Thailand, managed under the umbrella of Groupe Casino...
shopping center on Rajadamri Road in Pathum Wan
Pathum Wan
Pathum Wan or Pathumwan is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by six other districts : Ratchathewi , Watthana, Khlong Toei, Sathon, Bang Rak, Pom Prap Sattru Phai , and Dusit.-History:The district was established in 1914...
district, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, opposite Central World Plaza.
Village Roadshow took over Golden Harvest's stake in 2000, and in 2002, Wichai bought out Village Roadshow's 50% interest. The company then merged with Major Cineplex in 2004, putting aside a rivalry within the Poolvaraluck family.
EGV's theaters
Aside from its EGV-branded multiplexes, EGV has the following:- Gold Class – Smaller theaters, located on existing EGV properties, with their own box offices. The screening rooms have around 50 seats, with heavily padded reclining chairs and valet food-and-drink service. Blankets, pillows and foot-warming stockings are provided. EGV was the pioneer in this concept of luxury movie-going in Thailand and it remains popular.
- D-Cine – Small, living-room-like theaters where customers can program their own DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
movie showings. - Drive-In Café – A short-lived concept, this was tried in 2004 in an auditorium at EGV Seacon in PrawetPrawetPrawet is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand, located in the southeast of the town. Neighboring districts are Bang Phli , Bang Na, Phra Khanong, Suan Luang, Bang Kapi, Saphan Sung and Lat Krabang .Si Nakharin road, named after Srinagarindra, is the major road of the district...
district. Featuring a 1950s American drive-in theaterDrive-in theaterA drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars.The screen can be as simple as a...
motif, the audience sat in automobile-like restaurant booths and could be served hot dogs and hamburgers while they watched a movie.
Paragon Cineplex
Opened in early 2006, Paragon Cineplex is on the fifth floor of the Siam ParagonSiam Paragon
Siam Paragon is a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. It is one of the biggest shopping centers in Asia. Opened on December 9, 2005, it includes a wide range of specialty stores and restaurants as well as a multiplex movie theater and the Siam Ocean World...
shopping mall. With 16 screens and 5,000 seats, it is Thailand's largest movie theater. It includes the 1,200-seat Siam Pavalai Royal Grand Theatre as well as some smaller Nokia Ultra Screen theaters with reclining seats. There is also the Enigma, a members-only cinema.
Krung Sri IMAX
Thailand's only IMAXIMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
cinema is part of the Paragon Cineplex at Siam Paragon
Siam Paragon
Siam Paragon is a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. It is one of the biggest shopping centers in Asia. Opened on December 9, 2005, it includes a wide range of specialty stores and restaurants as well as a multiplex movie theater and the Siam Ocean World...
. It was formerly located at the Major Cineplex Ratchayothin
Major Cineplex Ratchayothin
Major Cineplex Ratchayothin is an entertainment and shopping complex on Phahonyothin Road in Lat Yao subdistrict, Chatuchak district, Bangkok. Operated by Thailand's largest movie-theater chain, Major Cineplex, it has a 14-screen multiplex cinema, a 38-lane bowling alley, karaoke rooms,...
, Major Cineplex Pinklao.
Other businesses
While movie theaters are Major Cineplex Group's core business, the company is heavily involved in the bowling alley business, with a total of 360 lanes under its Major Bowl Hit! brand. It also has 222 karaokeKaraoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
rooms.
Major's property development arm leases retail space to outside tenants in its anchored shopping malls. Major Cineplex also has a 25% stake in Siam Future Development Plc (SET
Stock Exchange of Thailand
The Stock Exchange of Thailand is the national stock exchange of Thailand. It is located in Bangkok. As of 31 December 2007, the Stock Exchange of Thailand had 541 listed companies with a combined market capitalization of $280 billion. The indices of the stock exchange are SET Index, SET50 Index...
: SF), a developer of shopping malls.
The company has also invested in the growing California WOW Xperience Plc (SET: CAWOW), the leading fitness center
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
operator in Thailand. It has 10 branches: eight in Bangkok, and one each in Pattaya
Pattaya
Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi....
and Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
. It branched off due to foreign ownership rules for the wholly owned Asian subsidiary of 24 Hour Fitness, called California Fitness
California Fitness
California Fitness is a wholly owned subsidiary of 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide which has around 400 clubs serving more than three million members. The first California Fitness club was established in 1996 in the business district of Hong Kong near Lan Kwai Fong...
, and has member swap agreements with both chains. It holds a 36.75% stake in that venture, and consequently, California's Fitness Center branches are becoming part of Major Cineplex's developments.
In 2007, Major Cineplex's ticketing service, Major Ticketing, which sold advance bookings for movies, as well as other events, merged with BEC-TERO
BEC-TERO
BEC-TERO Entertainment Public Co. Ltd. is an entertainment conglomerate in Thailand that organizes and promotes concerts, owns record labels and produces films and television shows. It is a subsidiary of BEC World Public Co. Ltd., which also owns Bangkok Entertainment Co. Ltd., operator of Thai TV...
's Thaiticketmaster. The merged entity is called Thaiticketmajor.
External links
- Major Cineplex corporate website
- Financial Statement Quarter 1/2006 (ZIP) at the Stock Exchange of ThailandStock Exchange of ThailandThe Stock Exchange of Thailand is the national stock exchange of Thailand. It is located in Bangkok. As of 31 December 2007, the Stock Exchange of Thailand had 541 listed companies with a combined market capitalization of $280 billion. The indices of the stock exchange are SET Index, SET50 Index...