Warner Bros Entertainment plans to move its cinema construction design centre from London to Shanghai as part of a continuing expansion into the Chinese market, a Chinese state media report said today.
The centre will handle all cinema design work for theatres in China, Italy, Japan, the United States, and any other countries into which the company expands in the future, the Xinhua News Agency said.
It cited Millard Ochs, president of Warner Bros International Cinemas as saying the move would “further close cooperation” between Warner Bros and its Chinese partners.
The company was the first Western studio to set up a distribution network in China and now operates eight cinemas with 67 screens and 14,000 seats in China, Xinhua said.
The company has been looking to rapidly expand its theatre chain in China, signing an agreement to open theatres in malls operated by major real estate developer Dalian Wang Group.
Warner Bros in London had no immediate comment and referred questions to company headquarters in California.
References: EGi News 06/01/06
