MALAYSIANS SPEND NEARLY FIVE HOURS IN FRONT OF TV

KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysians spent an average four hours
and 36 minutes daily to watch television last year, a 37 percent
increase from the time of three hours and 21 minutes spent in 1995.

It is equivalent to slightly over five minutes increase of daily TV time
spent consistently every year, according to Today's Media Insights.

It said while TV continues to register growth in time spent year after year,
in reality the year on year increase has not been entirely smooth or consistent.

Growth spurts in average daily TV viewing time trend coincides with affairs
of the day, it said.

The average year on year growth of daily TV viewing time is 2.5 percent, it
said.

This growth exceeds the mean (average) or the compound average growth rate
(CAGR) of 2.3 percent - depending on the severity of distress.

It said share of cinema collections and admissions have grown.

It said cinema collection in Malaysia in 2008 was worth RM380.7 million,
growing 32 percent year on year according to the National Film Development
Corporation Malaysia.

English films are the most popular in Malaysia, accounting for 70 percent
share of cinema collections and admissions.

Its collection last year was up 31 percent to RM265.08 million.

Its share have grown considerably since 2006 where its share was 60 percent,
it added.

It said Malay films saw a 46 percent increase in cinema collection to
RM43.93 million last year, while Chinese language film saw 33 percent growth to
RM37.86 million, Tamil films was up 20 percent to RM17.14 million and others up
12 percent to RM16.71 million.

Meanwhile, cinema admission rose 31 percent to 43.85 million last year
compared to 33.55 million in 2007, Today's Media Insight said.

Admission for English language film grew 29 percent to 30.12 million, Malay
film 42 percent to 5.29 million, Chinese film 32 percent to 4.34 million, Tamil
film 36 percent to 2.13 million and others 17 percent to 1.97 million.
(US$1=RM3.63)
-- BERNAMA