TDC signs three US exhibitors to digital network

February 2008

 

Source: Screen Digest

 

Technicolor Digital Cinema, a unit of Thomson media group, has signed three new exhibitors to its d-cinema scheme in North America: Clearview Cinemas, iPic Entertainment and Cinemaworld.

 

Of these, Clearview Cinemas is the largest, within the top 20 cinema chains in the US market with 254 screens in 50 cinemas, of which the vast majority are in New York.

 

In contrast iPic launches its first complex this month (December), a luxury entertainment complex also featuring bowling, a restaurant, bar and a live venue.

 

Cinemaworld is a 32-screen entity operating in Florida.

 

 The recent deals are the first for Technicolor since Zyacorp Cinemagic Stadium Theatres in March 2007.The full list of exhibitors aligned to the TDC d-cinema platform includes National Amusements and Mann Theatres with 113 screens.

 

Recent estimates put TDC’s screen count at around 300. The recent signings closely follow the announcement that AccessIT, the leading d-cinema facilitator in the US market, is about to embark on the second phase of its roll-out targeting 10,000 screens in the US (and potentially outside the US). In contrast, TDC has been undertaking a beta test of various d-cinema equipment, although there has been no recent mention of results or whether the company has actively moved into a commercial phase yet.

 

TDC’s targets have been reiterated as 5,000 screens over the next three to four years, as part of a larger 15,000 screens over the next 10 years. TDC has, like AccessIT, secured studio commitments for content and financing in the form of a VPF-type agreement for the US market.

 

The market for d-cinema networks is appearing crowded with AccessIT, TDC, and DCIP all targeting in the range of 15,000 screens each in a total market of 39,000 screens in the US. There are also 8,000 screens of independent exhibitors as part of the NATOCinema Buying Group (CBG) that could choose an existing network provider or instead align with emerging networks such as Digeserv, which was one of four providers to make

it through the first round of tender.