Published:
20-Aug-08
Slovenian company XpanD, has secured a second order with a major circuit for its active stereoscopic presentation systems in cinemas. XpanD has agreed an exclusive five year deal to provide Eurasia cinemas BV, a pan-regional operator with screens in Russia and Turkey, with stereoscopic systems, initially in 15 digital screens. The Eurasia group, is an 88 per cent shareholder in AFM Cinemas, one of Turkey's leading multiplex operators with 176 screens. The company also has an alliance with A1 Group, a private Russian firm, which controls the Kronverk chain with 80 screens in the territory. As part of the initial 15 systems, two each will be deployed in Moscow and St Petersburg.
Our take...
The deal is the second multi-system deal for XpanD, which recently acquired the assets of NuVision technologies, following a similar 12 theatre deal with Marcus Theatres in the US in June. At the first half 2008, there were 23 digital 3D screens in Russia and just four in Turkey. Of the Russian installations, the majority are already configured with XpanD's active glasses system, one of four stereoscopic solutions available for theatrical presentation. The active glasses solution has proven particularly popular in Europe, with 80 per cent of the 110 installations in commercial theatres located in this region at first half 2008. XpanD accounted for around seven per cent of the market for digital 3D installations worldwide, at our latest data point. The system is a cost effective, flexible 3D option, as it does not require the installation of a silver screen and can be easily switched to another auditorium (also with a digital projector) if required. The deal closely follows a similar arrangement between international circuit, Cinema City International and Dolby, for its digital 3D solution.
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