Filmnight.com ups market share with merger

Filmnight.com has completed the acquisition of Prime Time video stores, meaning the enlarged video rental group takes the lead in London market share.

Prime Time's 47 stores combined with about 219 Filmnight.com outlets will create the largest concentration of video rental stores in London.

'We're delighted to have acquired Prime Time, which gives us the largest network of film stores in London. This is a fantastic consolidation opportunity in the film rental market. We are expanding our retail operation alongside our mobile and online channels to provide customers with widely accessible film products,' said Filmnight.com executive chairman Andrew Bentley.

Filmnight.com has about 120 franchisees and 99 fully owned stores in the UK. The majority of Prime Time stores will eventually be updated to the Filmnight.com fascia.

In December last year, Filmnight.com acquired the Apollo chain and is in the process of upgrading them to its format. Converted Apollo stores are showing like-for-like sales growth in excess of 50 per cent according to the group.