Competition Authority: “Film Forum Refuses to Provide Films for Heart of Tel Aviv”

According to a letter of suspicion sent to those involved in the Competition Authority last Thursday, the Film Forum “has systematically refused to provide films to theHeart cinema Tel Aviv, and this despite “repeated inquiries” from the movie theater network to a film forum that will allow her to screen the films in the heart of Tel Aviv.

The Gridinger film forum holds the exclusive distribution rights of four of the six major studios in the United States – Sony, 21st Century Fox, Walt Disney and Paramount. In addition, Gridinger also owns a global cinema empire. His activities in Israel include the activities of the Rabbi and Yes Planet network, and in addition, the parent company of the Cineworld Film Forum holds thousands of cinemas around the world and is considered one of the largest cinemas in the world.

In 2010, the Competition Authority approved the merger between the Film Forum and the Ed Matalon Company, in which it coordinated the exclusive distribution rights of three of the major studios. In order to avoid concern that the Film Forum would use its exclusive distribution rights on behalf of the studios to make it difficult for its competitors in the cinema, the Authority imposed a condition for the supply of films to competing cinemas as well.

However, as a letter of suspicion, the Film Forum violated this condition. According to the suspicion, the Film Forum refused to provide a cinema to the heart of Tel Aviv, located in Dizengoff Center – within walking distance of Dizengoff Square where multi-cinema is located – films screened in Rabbi Tel Aviv. According to the suspicion, in most cases the refusal to provide was without explanation.

In one case, the Film Forum explained to the heart of Tel Aviv that “the films are embedded in Rabbi Chen Dizengoff, we do not see room for another copy in Tel Aviv.” The PA investigation began in 2019, during which various involved persons were interrogated and seized documents. Charge.

*** Assumption of innocence: It should be emphasized that even after the decision to file an indictment subject to the hearing, Muki Gridinger and the rest of the involvement are suspicious, have not been convicted of a crime and are presumed innocent.