Sun, 02 Nov 2025

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 Vue cinema boss: I don't see streaming as the competition

Tim Richards spoke to Will Bain on the BBC's Big Boss Interview podcast.

* Streaming services and home entertainment are not seen as competition by Richards, but rather as complementary forms of film consumption.
* Film studios tried to circumvent cinemas during the pandemic, but ultimately lost "hundreds of millions of dollars".
* The last five years have been turbulent for the film industry, with Vue facing challenges such as Covid-19 lockdowns, strikes, and rising operational costs.
* Despite these challenges, Vue has returned to pre-pandemic trading levels and is expecting its biggest summer ever next year.
* Richards believes there will always be an appetite for the big screen and that streaming services are not a threat to cinemas.
* He attributes the recent decline in cinema attendance to supply issues (such as Hollywood strikes) rather than demand issues.
* Vue has taken steps to mitigate rising operational costs, including increasing ticket prices only slightly.
* Richards is concerned about government policies affecting the entertainment industry, warning "Please don't touch [us] again" ahead of the upcoming budget.
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