AccessIT Signs Atlas Cinemas To Deployment & Pre-Show Programming Deal

By Neal Romanek Sep 5, 2007, 02:18

Access Integrated Technologies has announced that Atlas Cinemas will be the fourteenth chain to deploy the digital cinema leader's fully integrated and networked system. This agreement brings the total number of screens signed to the AccessIT Deployment Plan to almost 3700 with 800 of those belonging to customers of AccessIT's PreFlix Pre-Show Entertainment solution. AccessIT recently announced the installation of its 3,000th digital cinema system ˆ a milestone for the company and the industry. AccessIT is working to complete the installation of its first 4,000 screens by the end of October. Atlas will convert 39 screens in three locations from film to digital using AccessIT's Theatre Command Center software, pre-show programming, Christie DLP Cinema projectors and other networked hardware that combine to play both feature movies and PreFlix advertising. The system is the only one of its kind being provided to theaters today. "The fully integrated services and networked functionality of AccessIT's digital cinema system will streamline the business of delivering high-quality films and advertising for Atlas," said Al Saluan, owner of Atlas Cinemas. "Ultimately, digital cinema from the industry leaders will mean more choice in alternative content thanks to the simplified movie delivery and networked scheduling process." Said Chuck Goldwater, President of AccessIT's Media Services Group: "Atlas Cinemas joins the digital revolution with a complete digital cinema solution that dramatically enhances all aspects of delivering and managing content and on-screen advertising at theatres. We look forward to working with the outstanding team at Atlas to help them along with our other exhibitor partners achieve all the benefits of digital cinema technology." Craig Sholder, Vice-President of Entertainment Solutions, Christie USA, added: "It is exciting to see visionary exhibitors such as Atlas Theatre's take the leap to Digital. With the high quality entertainment experience that Digital Cinema offers, their audiences will be treated to the best picture quality at every showing. Christie is looking forward to supporting Atlas in their transition with proven and reliable service and support, as well with brilliant images from our acclaimed Christie CP2000 DLP Cinema projector. " AccessIT Digital Cinema is the industry-leading deployment program for Digital Cinema that provides the funding, operations and administration for the company's studio-supported 4,000-screen Digital Cinema rollout plan supported by major studios and independent distributors, among others - and exhibitors who receive turnkey, Digital Cinema systems in conformance with DCI specifications, including AccessIT's unique Library Management Server and Theatre Command Center software, Christie DLP Cinema projectors and Doremi's DCP2000 JPEG server. To date, AccessIT has contracted to install roughly 3,700 systems in forty-one states and has completed the rollout of more than 3,000 screens with exhibitors including Allen Theatres, MJR Theatres, Showplace Cinemas, Marquee Cinemas, Neighborhood Cinema Group, Celebration! Cinema, Cinema West, Cinetopia, Emagine, UltraStar, Galaxy, Rave and Carmike Cinemas and AccessIT's own Pavilion Digital Showcase Cinema. Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. (AccessIT) provides theater operators the first and only studio-backed fully networked digital cinema system delivering more than three million digital screenings of Hollywood feature films to date. The company's digital cinema system provides feature films and alternative content via satellite to expand box office sales and develop new ways to attract incremental revenues. Through its alternative content division, The Bigger Picture, AccessIT offers channels of programming including Kidtoons, Faith Based, Music and Anime. The ongoing 4,000-screen deployment is the largest of its kind in the world. Christie is a leader in visual solutions for world-class organizations, offering diverse applications for business, entertainment, and industry. A leading innovator in film projection since 1929 and a pioneer in projection systems since 1979, Christie has established a global reputation as a total service provider and the world's single source manufacturer of a variety of display technologies and solutions. Christie offers comprehensive solutions for cinema, large audience venues, control rooms, business presentations, training facilities, 3D and Virtual Reality, simulation and education as well as industrial and government environments. Christie solutions are used in over 75,000 locations worldwide, including more than 10,000 projectors and displays networked with ChristieNET˙ networking devices. For more information on Christie's cinema solutions and to find a theater with Christie Digital Cinema projectors, visit www.christiedigital.com.

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