• by Wayne Friedman , March 22, 2012

Technology-minded TV companies should note of how new high-tech movies fared among theatrical marketers: Revenues from 3D movies dropped nearly 20% in 2011 versus 2010.

In addition, box office revenues from 3D movies dropped 18% to $1.8 billion in 2011 from $2.2 billion a year ago, according to the Motion Picture Association of America. Those high-tech movies' share of the overall market also slipped to 18% from 21% in the previous year.

The average moviegoer over 25 years of age watched one 3D movie, while the average moviegoer under 25 watched two 3D movies.

Many TV companies have invested in many 3D programs/networks/services, which have been slow-growing.

Overall, all movies witnessed a slight drop in 2011 -- down 4% to $10.2 billion from $10.6 billion, per the MPAA. But the association notes that this is up 6% versus levels of five years ago.

One trend that has seen a consistent and irrefutable steady decline is individual box office tickets -- now at 1.28 billion tickets, down from 1.57 billion in 2002. Box office tickets dropped 4% in 2011 versus 2010.

The movie business continues to be driven by younger consumers 25-39 years old -- mostly male -- and frequent moviegoers -- those going more than once a month. The MPAA says these frequent moviegoers amount to 10% of all movie customers. but they represent over 50% of all theatrical movie ticket sales.

In 2011, MPAA members. which were mostly big studios, released 18% fewer movies -- 97 -- versus the previous year. But overall, the MPAA notes, movie releases were up 3% to 817 movies. Those movies with production budgets of over $20 million represented 10% of all movie releases.