Ster-Kinekor

Ster-Kinekor is a South African-based cinema company, and the country's largest movie exhibitor. It represents 60-65% of the market, having 45 cinema complexes consisting of 398 large-scale screens and 58 089 seats; 138 state-of-the-art 3D screens across the country (Commercial, 3D, IMAX, D-BOX, Kids’ Cinema, Nouveau and Cine Prestige) with 129 in South Africa. In Africa, the company operates in 5 cinema complexes with 28 screens and 3791 seats.

Ster-Kinekor
TypePublic
IndustryEntertainment
HeadquartersSouth Africa,
Sandton
,
South Africa
Number of locations
45
Website

Its head office is at the Ster-Kinekor Office Park in Sandton, Johannesburg.[1]

History

The History of Ster-Kinekor's Journey in South Africa

The Ster-Kinekor cinema experience today is one that is truly immersive with crystal clear visuals and sound that reverberate in your soul. As the market leader, Ster-Kinekor aims to spearhead the advancement of cinema across both South Africa and the rest of Africa, to ensure that consumers continue to experience movies as they were made to be seen – on the big screen.  

1896

Ster-Kinekor has come a long way since its first movies were shown in South Africa in 1896, at the Empire Palace of Varieties.

The company operates 47 commercial cinema complexes in South Africa, with six international sites based in Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

1910

However, the first dedicated bioscope opened 1910. Then the great depression hit and times were dark. But after the great depression, with optimism in the air, I.W Schlesinger formed the African Theatres Trust. During this time, Kinemas (S.A) Ltd became main the competition. However, Kinemas and African Theatres Trust merged to form African Consolidated Theatres LTD. During this time, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and 20th Century Fox entered the local market.

1955

A game-changing sale took place in 1955 when African Consolidated Ltd sold to 20th Century Fox. Over a decade later, in 1969, 20th Century Fox sold to Sanlam. Sanlam that already owned Ster Films and Ster Theatres.

1970 - 1997

During this time Government decreed that companies be run separately as Ster and Kinekor, but in 1970, Government permitted the merger of the two companies as Ster-Kinekor. Also at that time, television arrived in South Africa.

1976 saw the Cinema Multiplex Complex Development and in 1997, Ster-Kinekor developed an art circuit rebranding and Cinema Nouveau was born.

2008

saw the start of the digitalization of Ster-Kinekor. During 2013, the company embarked on a massive roll-out project to convert and equip every cinema with the very latest in digital projection and sound technology.  3D Cinema was introduced in 2008, in 2011, Ster-Kinekor Mobi was introduced and the following year, in 2012, Ster-Kinekor launched apps and Cine Prestige. The award-winning SK App, which is downloadable on all smartphone operating systems, is interactive, user-friendly and feature-rich, and recently recorded over 1.9-million downloads.

In more recent times, Ster-Kinekor sites introduced IMAX and ticket validation stations, Self-service catering and ticket Reservations. This time saw the introduction of beer, wine and coffee offerings at Cine Prestige sites.

Presently, Ster-Kinekor is the market leader in film exhibition in South Africa with 40 years on-screen advertising experience, with conferencing venues and live streaming services.

With the largest 3D footprint across the country, Ster-Kinekor has 19 Cine Prestige screens, seven IMAX screens, 200 digital screens, 131 3D screens, and counting. Ster-Kinekor has 51 698 seats country wide. 1700 staff and 645 tonnes of popcorn later, it’s little wonder that Ster-Kinekor has a loyalty base of 1,97 million and that to most South Africans, the word ‘movies’ is synonymous with the name ‘Ster-Kinekor’.

STER-KINEKOR THEATRES TODAY

In more recent times, Ster-Kinekor sites have introduced the IMAX and Cine Prestige experiences, self-service catering and ticket reservations. There has also been an introduction of more catering options, beer, wine and coffee offerings at Cine Prestige sites.

Presently, Ster-Kinekor is the biggest market leader in film exhibition in South Africa with 40 years on-screen advertising experience, conferencing venues and live streaming services.

With the largest 3D footprint across the country, Ster-Kinekor has 19 Cine Prestige screens, 9 IMAX screens, 5 D-BOX screens, 4 Kids’ Cinema screens, 200 digital screens, 131 3D screens, and counting. Ster-Kinekor has 51 698 seats country wide, around 1700 staff and over 600 tonnes of popcorn later, it’s the little wonder that to most South Africans, the word ‘movies’ is synonymous with the name Ster-Kinekor.

Competition

In South Africa, Ster-Kinekor holds the largest market share in its industry, followed by Nu Metro Cinemas. Smaller, independent operators, including CineCentre, Movies@, and Epic Cinemas, make up the rest of the market.[2]

References
  1. "Contact Us." Ster-Kinekor. Retrieved on 27 September 2011. "Physical Address: Ster-Kinekor Office Park 185 Katherine Street Eastgate Ext.4 Sandton"
  2. Staff Writer. "Ster-Kinekor vs Nu Metro: movie ticket prices in South Africa". Retrieved 2020-08-15.
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