BANGALORE: Like the previous season, IPL cricket matches are not screened at movie halls in the city this year.According to sources, the governing body of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has denied theatrical rights to screen the matches this year.Though during the first three seasons, theatre and multiplex owners had bagged the rights to screen the cricket matches but last year, they were denied of screening rights.“No multiplex or theatre in the city will be screening any of the IPL matches,” said Amit Varma, Assistant Manager, Film Cell Executive, PVR Cinemas.“This year, good Kannada and English movies released, regardless of the IPL.But the Bollywood industry, that runs mainly on the first week response to generate box office profit has not released any good movies.Hopefully, the loss will be reduced,” said an official from a multiplex in the city.However, pubs, bars and restaurants, which do not have any restrictions on screening the matches, are hosting IPL nights.“Last year, restaurants that were screening IPL matches made huge profits throughout the season.On days when the Royal Challengers Bangalore played, their revenues increased by three times.The total turnover of bars and pubs went up by 80 per cent overall,” said J Zameer, an industry analyst.During the first three seasons of the IPL, multiplexes recorded a revenue boost of almost 30 per cent in the city and an overall 60 per cent across the country.Anita Krishnan, a student who had enjoyed watching the semi-finals of the second season in theatre said, “It was fun to cheer for RCB in a multiplex.It is a truly different experience to watch the game in a theatre.”
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