Published:
27-Jun-08
Pan-European d-cinema facilitator, XDC has signed up its first exhibitor, Austrian multiplex chain, Cineplexx Kinobetriebe GmbH, for a full-scale digital conversion. The deal is an exclusive agreement to deploy digital systems in all 193 screens, co-financed by the VPF model. Around 100 screens are expected to be completed by end 2008 or at least half of all screens in each individual cinema. The equipment will comprise Christie 2K projectors and XDC's Cinestore server, which in turn became the first server to incorporate Dolby's Digital 3D technology through a licensing deal.
XDC has now secured financial commitments from all six major Studios as the first major d-cinema network in Europe to achieve this benchmark. Initially, XDC had signed agreements with Warner, Fox, Paramount and Disney in May, but the two remaining Studios, Universal and Sony Pictures also agreed to supply digital content as well as make financial contributions towards d-cinema systems this month.
Our take...
The signing of Austria's leading circuit, Cineplexx to XDC's network, as only the second major circuit wide deal in Europe, after CGR's deal with rival facilitator Arts Alliance Media, shows how securing commitment from the US Studios has been vital in reaching such larger-scale agreements. In turn, the US Studios are encouraging the spread of d-cinema systems not just in the US, but also internationally, in order to provide sufficient infrastructure to accommodate a now strong line up of digital 3D titles in 2009.
