NZ a Nation of Big Screen Loving Pirates

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,

May 10 2011

Cinema Census Reveals NZ to Be a Nation of Big Screen Loving Pirates

A survey has found that 51% of New Zealanders regularly download movies online, of those 87% get them from free and illegal sources.

The findings are part of the first ever ‘NZ Cinema Census’ – organised by movie website Flicks.co.nz and V48HOURS founder Ant Timpson – which polled nearly 4,000 Kiwis on their movie-watching and cinema-going habits.

With questions in a number of different categories, the survey gave Kiwis a chance to voice their opinion on everything movie related – including the hot political potato of downloading copyrighted material.

Respondents cited a frustration with movies being released in NZ after overseas markets and the lack of a decent movie download service as the drivers behind the huge amount of illegal downloading. Only 40% are opposed to illegal downloading.

When not going to the cinema, online is the second most popular way to watch movies - more popular than SKY or network TV and Blu-Ray. The 18-25 year-old age group are the most frequent downloaders.

Respondents also put forward their views on NZ made and funded films. We want to see more local content on screens, but 84% don’t care or don’t want to see our filmmakers tell “NZ specific stories”.

The survey found that the allure of the big screen and sound experience offered by cinemas still can’t be beat, even in the face of increasing home entertainment options. Respondents – while admitting ticket prices are expensive – poured out the love for the silver screen.

For more detail and full results from the survey – visit www.flicks.co.nz.

ENDS