ACNielsen EDI Expands Services to Mexico, Australia; The Motion Picture Box Office Information Service Embarks On Growth Strategy to Serve an Increasingly Global Industry

Business Wire, June 19, 1998

STAMFORD, Conn.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--June 19, 1998--To meet growing demand from the motion picture industry for global overnight box office information, ACNielsen EDI, a unit of ACNielsen Corp. and the leader in motion picture box office information, announced the expansion of its services to Mexico and Australia.

ACNielsen EDI coverage of the box office grosses in international markets now jumps from 42 to 57 percent. This expansion complements ACNielsen EDI's current box office coverage in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain and Austria.

"The motion picture industry is increasingly dependent on the international box office," said ACNielsen Vice Chairman Michael P. Connors, "and with our global resources we intend to provide the industry with the information and analysis they need to make strategic production, distribution, exhibition and marketing decisions."

According to the company, international revenues for filmed entertainment are now growing faster, and at times far exceed, the U.S. market. A case in point is the recent blockbuster, "Titanic." U.S. box office grosses have reached $582 million (33 percent), with international box office performance at $1.2 billion (67 percent).

Australia and Mexico are two of the hottest markets for the industry. Australia ranks sixth, and is responsible for more than 7 percent of the international box office. It generates grosses far higher than its population would indicate, and its screen count has doubled in the last decade.

Mexico ranks 11th, with 5 percent of the international box office and more than 500 theaters. It is extremely attractive to U.S. exhibition companies because of its close geographic proximity. Furthermore, the broader Latin American marketplace is undergoing a movie theater building boom, with completion of 100 new complexes expected in the next two years.

"The Australian marketplace is our first step into the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific territory," said ACNielsen EDI President Marcy Polier. "Opportunities in Latin America are equally exciting, with the addition of so many large multiplexes and increased box office revenue."

To lead ACNielsen EDI in Mexico, the company named Mario Rosas Arufe as managing director. The company's headquarters will be in Mexico City. Arufe previously served as project manager for Emphasis Corp., a market research company, and as sales manager for VideoCine, the distributor for Films from Warner Bros., New Line, Polygram and others. He also organized the Film Festival of Cancun as vice president and director general.

Peter Wilkinson joins ACNielsen EDI as managing director in Australia. The company's headquarters will be in Sydney. He previously worked for Columbia Tri-Star Film Distributors International for 22 years, most recently as vice president for Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

ACNielsen EDI, an operating unit of ACNielsen, is the worldwide authority on box office results, information and analysis for the motion picture industry.

ACNielsen, offering services in more than 90 countries and with 1997 revenues of $1.4 billion, is the global leader in delivering market research, information and analysis to the consumer products and service industry.

    CONTACT: ACNielsen EDI, Stamford
              Elizabeth Board, 203/961-3324
                       or
              Regberg & Associates, Beverly Hills, Calif.
              Scott Regberg, 310/475-5735