Multiplexes, which were the most hit during Indian Premier League (IPL) – the Twenty20 championship during April-June this year?are likely to face the fire once again when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) organises its inaugural season of Champions League Twenty20 in December this year.
But multiplex players are putting on a brave front and are hopeful that film releases will be rescheduled in order to bypass any loss in business then.
The Champions League Twenty20 will be held in India from December 3-10, and includes the first weekend of the month, and will be organised by the BCCI, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa.
The official spokesperson of Adlabs, which is an integrated movie and entertainment company of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), said, ?For us, the most critical period is between October and November.?
The company is hopeful now that BCCI has announced the dates and the industry is aware of the kind of mayhem that this event may create, film producers may reschedule release dates. The film industry may customise the offerings by keeping an eye on the Champions T20 League.
Earlier, during the IPL, Adlabs wanted to showcase the matches in its theatres. However, the plan didn?t materialise. But it is now hoping to ink some deal with BCCI and showcase Champions T20 in Adlabs theatres.
Another exhibitor who tried screening IPL but couldn?t do so was Cinemax. Devang Sampat, senior vice-president, Cinemax said, ?Any alternative content is welcome on our screens and we will definitely look for an opportunity to showcase sports as well.? He also added December is the best month for the exhibition business and if good films are released, then that will bring audiences to the theatres and there will be no loss in business.
Bhumika Tewari, AVP programming, Fun Cinemas, said, ?Five days won?t make much of a difference.? She also said the two biggest releases which are scheduled in December are Yash Chopra produced and Shah Rukh Khan starrer Rab Ne Banagi Jodi and Salman Khan starrer Yuvraj. However, both these films will hit the theatre towards the second half of December and by that time, the league will wind up.
BCCI was earlier supposed to organise Champions T20 League between September-October, however it rescheduled the event to December.
Tewari said, had the event happened in September-October, the intensity would have been lowest because there are no major releases during this period.
Analysts say for every multiplex exhibitor Q4, that ends on March 31, is always a slack period because it?s the exam season. This, coupled with IPL, inflation and films failing at the box office, affected most of the multiplex players badly.