ARTS ALLIANCE MEDIA REACHES EUROPEAN
DIGITAL CINEMA ROLLOUT MILESTONES
- Completes Phase One of UK Film Council Digital Screen Network with 50 screens equipped
- Announces expansion into Europe with digital cinema trial in Norway
LONDON, 13th March 2006 - Arts Alliance Media (AAM) has completed two more significant steps in the advancement of digital cinema in Europe. On February 24, 2006, AAM finished Phase One of the UK Film Council Funded Digital Screen Network by deploying the first 50 screens of the planned 240 screen roll out. Additionally, AAM has formed a partnership with the Kristiansand Digital Cinema Alliance (KDCA) for a trial rollout of digital cinema in up to 10 screens in Norway.
"These two achievements further demonstrate Arts Alliance Media's position as the top digital cinema company in Europe," said Howard Kiedaisch, CEO of AAM. "AAM is committed to delivering the best solution possible as we meet the needs of the marketplace, serving the content owners, exhibitors and the film-going public."
AAM was awarded the $20m UKFC contract over a year ago in the face of stiff competition. Phase one of the deployment, which began in September 2005, was completed on February 24th, 2006 with the installation of screens 4 and 7 at the Cineworld Shaftsbury Ave in London’s West End.
On completing the first phase of the digital screen network, Fiona Deans, Director of Digital Cinema for AAM said "Back in August of last year, we committed to deliver 50 screens by Spring 2006 and I'm delighted to say we have completed this phase earlier than scheduled. We now have significant practical experience which will be invaluable in further rollouts.”
Steve Perrin, Deputy Head of Distribution and Exhibition at the UK Film Council noted "The reaction to the Network from both exhibitors and distributors has been tremendously positive. We could not be more pleased with our developing strategy".
To date, 25 films have been shown on the UKFC Digital Screen Network, including Oscar Nominees March of the Penguins (Warner Bros), and Good Night and Good Luck (Lionsgate); Brief Encounter (Park Circus); Michael Winterbottom’s A Cock and Bull Story (Redbus) and The Road to Guantanamo (Revolution Films); Hidden/Cache (Artificial Eye), Singin’ in the Rain (British Film Institute), The Proposition (Tartan Films) and The World’s Fastest Indian (Icon Film Distribution).
In Norway, the AAM/KDCA partnership will install approximately 10 screens initially, with the intention of moving to a larger scale rollout in late 2006. To date, three screens have already been equipped with digital projection equipment (one at the Frogner Kino in Oslo and two at Kristiansand Kino). The trial is supported and partially funded by Film & Kino as part of their ambitions to digitise all of Norway over the coming years.
KDCA is a group of Norwegian film technology, distribution and exhibition companies with extensive experience in the delivery of media over fibre. Kristiansand Kino is a partner in the KDCA and will be responsible for the maintenance and service program for the Nordic Digital Alliance initiative.
“For the Kristiansand D Cinema Allliance it is a strategic breakthrough to join Arts Alliance Media in developing complete D-Cinema solutions for the Nordic market. We acknowledge that the market conditions and structure for developing a sustainable digital offer will differ from that of the UK, and together with the official bodies within the industry we will work towards attractive content as well as technical and commercial solutions”, said Hans Petter Andersen, chairman of the newly formed KDCA.
Fiona Deans, Director of Digital Cinema, AAM said “We are delighted to be working with the Kristiansand Digital Cinema Alliance to bring the benefits of a digital cinema network to Norway. This rollout allows us to build upon the success we’ve had with the UK Film Council network and is an exciting next step in expanding our reach beyond the UK.”
In keeping with Arts Alliance Media’s commitment to working with the best available digital cinema technology, the Norwegian network will use equipment from various manufacturers.
- ends -
Notes to Editors:
About Arts Alliance Media
- Arts Alliance Media is Europe’s leading provider of digital film distribution services to the cinema, the home, and between industry players.
- In February 2005, Arts Alliance Digital Cinema won the UK Film Council contract to install and operate 240 digital screens, the world’s first 2k digital cinema network.
- AAM is the European leader in the online DVD rental market, through the UK's number one service, LOVEFiLM, and also in Europe with LOVEFiLM in Denmark and Boxman in Sweden. Together the services provide online DVD rental services to over 150,000 subscribers.
- The company also operates Vizumi Pro, a secure, professional VOD network to transport films, trailers and promo reels between producers, sales agents, distributors, exhibitors and festivals.
- AAM’s Marketing Services provides advertising, market intelligence and research opportunities to the film industry by leveraging the broad reach and rich profiles of consumers of its LOVEFiLM and Newman services.
About Kristiansand Digital Cinema Alliance
Kristiansand Digital Cinema Alliance consists of the following companies:
Agder Energi
One of the largest energy companies in Norway with 900 employees. Agder Energy is a major regional player in South of Norway, and a major fibre infrastructure owner in Norway with strategic focus on culture and leisure industry, with emphasis on digitalisation.
Cultiva
Cultiva is a culture fund with about 1,5 Billion NOK in fund capital.
Their focus is on development of sustainable culture and leisure business, and they provide support for projects for establishing new jobs within the art and culture area. Cultiva also supports knowledge based organisations who contribute to innovation, development and competence building.
Norges Film
Norges Film where established on the basis of the competence for digital film distribution in Kristiansand. The core business is within distribution of film over the broadband network: www.filmarkivet.no
Their main partner is the Norwegian Film Institute and they provide operational management for the Norwegian Film Institute's National Digital Film Archive.
Ella Kommunikasjon
Ella Communication is the network's technology partner and a leading company within film and other content over broadband. They have a high level of experience with programming, testing and operational management, with a core competence in storage, service and distribution of digital film.
Kristiansand Cinema
Kristiansand Cinema is the fifth largest grossing cinema in Norway. It was the first cinema to send films directly via the fibre network. It is operating 10 screens and will be responsible for the maintenance and service program for Nordic Digital Alliance.