Sport challenge to Cineworld

THE UK’s largest cinema operator yesterday warned the Euro 2012 football championship and the London Olympics would present challenges this year, but said a strong line up of sequels and new “4D” seats should help take up the slack.

It came as Cineworld posted a 10 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £33.4 million on revenues up 1.5 per cent to £348m in the year to 29 December.

Cineworld revealed it would trial D-box seats, which shake and move according to the action on screen, at its Glasgow venue.

The company said it hoped blockbusters such as the latest Batman instalment The Dark Knight Rises, The Amazing Spiderman and Lord of the Rings prequel The Hobbit would pull in enough customers to offset the loss of trade to sporting events.