AccessIT Announces Agreement with Overture Films for Content and Virtual Print Fees in Time for the Highly Anticipated Righteous Kill

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MORRISTOWN, N.J., Sep 10, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. ("AccessIT") (NASDAQ:AIXD), the global leader in digital cinema, announced today that Overture Films (Overture) will provide all of their movies to digital cinema equipped theatres in AccessIT's Phase 1 digital cinema plan and will pay virtual print fees (VPFs) under a ten year agreement similar to those signed by all the other major studios. This agreement expands upon the strong relationship the companies have built since Overture's inception last year, as Overture is already a customer of both AccessIT's distribution software and satellite delivery services.

 

Since January of 2008, Overture has provided digital versions of their movies including Mad Money, Henry Poole Is Here, and Traitor to AccessIT's Phase 1 network of exhibitors. This agreement serves to formalize the studio's commitment to supply digital versions of their movies in the future, and to pay VPFs according to a set schedule.

 

"AccessIT has been a great partner for Overture Films in our inaugural year in the marketplace. From customer support to delivery services, we have been impressed with all they have to offer and we look forward to an expanded relationship as our studio continues to grow bringing digital features to theatres nationwide." said Kyle Davies, Executive Vice-President, Theatrical Distribution at Overture

 

"The signing of this agreement is a significant commitment by Overture to support the future of digital cinema," said Chuck Goldwater, President of AccessIT's Media Service Division. "We are proud of our growing partnership with the entire team at Overture and are looking forward to the outstanding lineup of movies they will be releasing in digital format, including Righteous Kill which opens at theatres on September 12, as it will support our exhibitor partners' digital cinema installations and the industry demand for more digital screens."

 

AccessIT's Digital Cinema division is the industry-leading deployment program for Digital Cinema that provides the funding, installation support and administration for the company's studio-supported Digital Cinema rollout plans. Its Phase 2 plan for up to an additional 10,000 screens will provide networked, turnkey, Digital Cinema systems in conformance with DCI specifications, including AccessIT's unique Library Management Server(R) and Theatre Command Center(R) software. The system will also include digital projectors and JPEG 2000 media servers from a variety of vendors whose equipment is designed to meet the DCI specifications as well as a demanding set of performance and reliability requirements AccessIT developed through its success with the Phase 1 plan. To date, AccessIT has contracted for and completed the rollout of more than 3,700 systems in forty-one states with exhibitors including Atlas Theatres, Allen Theatres, Carmike Cinemas, Celebration! Cinema, Cinema West, Cinetopia, Emagine, Galaxy Cinema, Marquee Cinemas, Krikorian Premiere Theatres, MJR Theatres, Neighborhood Cinema Group, Rave Motion Picture Theatres, Showplace Cinemas, UltraStar, and AccessIT's own Pavilion Digital Showcase Theatre.

 

Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. (AccessIT) is the global leader in providing integrated solutions for digital cinema. The Company's ground-breaking digital cinema networked services along with its Library Management Server(R) and Theatre Command Center(R) software have enabled theatres across the United States to play more than eight million digital showings of Hollywood features to date. AccessIT's 24/7 satellite operations delivers feature movies, alternative content advertising, and pre-show entertainment through its UniqueScreen Media subsidiary, including live 2-D and 3-D events through its CineLive(R) satellite network, expanding box office sales and developing new ways to attract incremental revenues. Through its alternative content distribution unit, The Bigger Picture, AccessIT offers channels of programming including Opera, Kidtoons, Faith Based, Concerts, Sports and Anime. Access Integrated Technologies(R) and AccessITTM are trademarks of Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. For more information on AccessIT, visit www.accessitx.com. [AIXD-G]

 

ABOUT OVERTURE FILMS

 

Overture Films (www.overturefilms.net) develops, produces, acquires, and distributes feature length, theatrical motion pictures worldwide. The studio is a wholly owned unit of Starz Media, a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Capital Group (NASDAQ: LCAPA, LCAPB), a tracking stock group of Liberty Media Corporation. Its affiliated companies, Anchor Bay Entertainment and Starz Entertainment, make the films available domestically to viewers via home video, premium television, Internet and other outlets.