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20 Mar 08
Country: India
Source:
Online Services/Intelligence/Cinema/Updates
The Indian film industry has so far opted for e-cinema technology (a cheaper lower-quality alternative to high-end D-Cinema systems) that meets the requirements of its strong local film sector, but there are now signs that D-Cinema will also feature prominently, following several new deals in the territory.
In the first major D-Cinema roll-out scheduled to date in India, Scrabble Entertainment (SE) has contracted leading projector manufacturer, Christie Digital, to supply 200 2K DLP Cinema projectors for its deployment scheme. As part of the scheme, SE will assume the role of technology facilitator and financier, but it will also act as a third party integrator between cinema operators and content owners, including major Studios. SE's financial model is based on a level of virtual print fees from distributors, similar to the model being used in North America, and it has already reportedly secured commitments to supply content in the digital format. In the long term, the target is to deploy 1,750 D-Cinema screens over the next five years, averaging 350 per year.
SE has also signed up its first major exhibitor to the scheme, in major multiplex operator PVR Cinemas, with 103 screens across the territory, including sites in the major cities of Mumbai, Lucknow and New Dehli. As part of the deal, PVR will convert its entire screen base to high-end digital cinema or D-Cinema standard, and would therefore be the first chain in India to be entirely retrofitted with the standard for Hollywood movies. According to SE, other multiplex operators Fame Cinemas, INOX and Cinemax Theatres have also signed up to the roll-out scheme.
In another D-Cinema deal in the territory, Indian digital cinema provider UFO Moviez has selected the Dolby digital cinema system (server) for select screens in its network across the territory. UFO Moviez has a network of close to 1,000 screens of lower e-cinema standard, but the new deal shows that D-Cinema standard has at least been requested by major multiplex circuits in order to meet criteria for screening Hollywood movies. The Dolby deployments will begin in Q2 2008, for as many as 250 systems. The Dolby system also offers an upgrade for screening digital 3D movies, and it is likely that this option also had a strong appeal. At the end of 2007, there were just 11 D-Cinema standard screens in India, up from six one year prior.
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