Ingrid Brown, Staff Reporter
DIRECT TV or cable in general, has been blamed for influencing movie lovers to stay home instead of going to cinemas.
Now that local cable operators have removed Direct TV and several other movie channels, there is not much choice but to fork out the cinema entrance fees.
Malanie Graham of Palace Amusement Company, told THE STAR it is still too early to assess if the removal of Direct TV, has had an impact on their attendance figures.
"Yes our figures have increased in the past month but it usually does around this time when we bring out all the block busters," she said.
However Graham noted that the broadcasting of Direct TV by local cable operators had impacted on their attendance. "It was affecting us up until Summer when we were at least 25 per cent less in attendance," she said.
She said avid movie goers however were never deterred from going to the cinemas while Direct TV was being broadcasted.
Checks with a few patrons revealed that they had been dependent on Direct TV and since its removal they were forced to attend the cinemas.
Natalie Parks, a receptionist said last year she relied a lot on Direct TV to see some of the popular movies "Since the channel went off cable last month, I have started going more often to Carib. For example I love Eddie Murphy shows and I waited and watched Nutty Professor on Direct TV, this year I had to make sure I went and saw it because I don't know if I will ever be able to see it on cable," she said.
Byron Dawkins, a marketing officer also told THE STAR he has been forced to see the movies before they close at the cinema. "When we had Direct TV, I use to wait on these movies, because they used to come at least three weeks after they close at Carib," he said.
