UPDATE 2-Kinepolis tickets sales fall, fine weather blamed

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By Darren Ennis

BRUSSELS, May 16 (Reuters) - Belgian cinema operator Kinepolis (KIPO.BR: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) reported a fall in ticket sales from April to mid-May as good weather kept people outdoors, after a sharp first-quarter rise, but it said the second quarter would be "moderately positive".

"The lead established in the first quarter was reduced somewhat in April and May owing to the persistent fine weather," it said in a statement ahead of its annual shareholder meeting.

Sales fell 12.5 percent in the April to mid-May period compared with the same period in 2007.

Many other cinema operators in Europe and the United States have also recorded poor ticket sales recently. Last week, Cinemark Holdings (CNK.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) -- the third-largest cinema owner in the United States -- reported a sharp fall in ticket sales.

Kinepolis said last month visitor numbers shot up 11.2 percent in the first quarter to 6.3 million as French comedy "Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis" drew crowds. It became the most successful ever French movie.

Ticket sales rose 4.2 percent to 8.3 million in the year to mid-May from a year earlier, said the company -- which owns cinemas in Belgium, France, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.

On Friday, Kinepolis shares rose 1.3 percent to 32.63 euros at 1217 GMT.