PVR INOX Launches Smart Cinemas for Small Towns
The franchise-owned, company-operated format cuts per-screen costs to enable lower ticket and F&B prices for rapid rollouts in Tier‑III markets.
Overview
- On Tuesday, August 4, PVR INOX unveiled the PVR INOX SMART Cinemas format and said Muzaffarpur, Bihar will be its first launch city.
- The chain will use a FOCO model—franchise-owned, company-operated—to limit its upfront capital while running operations and standards itself.
- Each Smart Cinema will offer 2K laser projection, 7.1 surround sound, modern auditoriums and curated food and beverage, which the company says preserves seat and AV quality.
- PVR INOX estimates a Smart screen costs about ₹1.9 crore versus ₹3–4 crore for an upscale screen and is targeting ticket prices about 30–35% below the nearest larger town with lower spend-per-head and ATP goals.
- The company has signed six more Smart properties due to open in the next nine months and plans wider expansion that it says will create local jobs and tax revenue, though commercial success will hinge on demand and franchise execution.