Movie theaters facing bankruptcy

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: At least 36 movie theaters in the province are facing bankruptcy because revenues are so low they can no longer cover operational costs.

Theater owners are asking the provincial administrator to reduce the entertainment tax.

"The situation of movie theaters in this area is deplorable, we ask for a tax reduction to survive," Achmad, a theater owner told Antara on Saturday.

He added that three of the nine theaters in West Lombok regency had closed long ago. The others, he said, are "dying". Achmad said that a cinema complex in Mataram Plaza would stop operation by 1997.

According to Achmad, the booming television industry and audio-visual technology, including video cassette and laser disc rentals, are badly affecting the theater industry.

"Now people prefer to relax and entertain themselves at home," Achmad said. (14)