Ster-Kinekor is a South African-based cinema company, and the country's largest movie exhibitor. It represents 60-65% of the market, having 43 cinema complexes consisting of 342 large-scale screens and 47 961 seats; 124 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 6 cinema complexes with 33 screens and 4 077 seats in Africa.

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

History

1896 The first movies were shown in South Africa in 1896, at the Empire Palace of Varieties.

1910

The first dedicated bioscope opened in 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 the main competition. Then, Kinemas and African Theatres Trust merged to form African Consolidated Theatres Ltd. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and 20th Century Fox also 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 period 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 in 1976, broadcast 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. Currently, Ster-Kinekor has 19 Cine Prestige screens, 9 IMAX screens, 5 D-BOX screens, 4 Kids’ Cinema screens, 200 digital screens, 131 3D screens.

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]