AccessIT Signs Agreement with Lionsgate To Receive Content and Virtual Print Fees For Its Phase 2 Digital Cinema Deployment Plan For Up To 10,000 Screens

-- Fifth Studio Signing for Phase 2 Plan --

 

3:59pm 10/24/2008

 

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Oct 14, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. the global leader in digital cinema announced today that leading next generation film studioLIONSGATE(R) (NYSE: LGF) will provide movies to digital cinema equipped theatres in the Phase 2 digital cinema program and will pay virtual print fees (VPFs) under a long-term agreement. This agreement follows a May 8th announcement of a similar agreement between Lionsgate and AccessIT for AccessIT's Phase 1 Digital Cinema Deployment Plan.

With a slate of seven digital cinema releases between now and the end of February, including "Punisher: War Zone" on December 5, "The Spirit" on Christmas day, "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail" on February 20th, as well as its first 3D feature "My Bloody Valentine" on January 16, Lionsgate will be a major provider of high quality digital cinema features for early Phase 2 customers.

"AccessIT has been a leader in shaping the digital cinema era of our industry. Lionsgate is very happy to extend our commitment to AccessIT now to include their Phase 2 Digital Cinema Deployment Plan and the many new exhibitors we expect they will bring into the digital world," said Steve Rothenberg, President of Domestic Distribution at Lionsgate. "Digital cinema brings the highest quality viewing experience to audiences and provides the platform for 3D movies like Lionsgate's "My Bloody Valentine" which opens in theatres on January 16."

"Lionsgate continues to be a vital participant in the world of digital cinema, especially with their full release schedule over the coming months," said Chuck Goldwater, President of AccessIT's Media Service Group. "Together with the other major studios we expect they will continue to keep the digital pipeline full, which will encourage more exhibitors to convert to digital in the coming months. We are proud to continue to strengthen our long and valued relationship with Steve Rothenberg, Mike Polydoros and the entire Lionsgate team."

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.

 

Lionsgate is the fifth studio to sign a content and VPF agreement for AccessIT's Phase 2 Digital Cinema Deployment. Others include Disney, Fox, Paramount and Universal.

 

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 nine 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 AccessIT(TM) are trademarks of Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. For more information on AccessIT, visit www.accessitx.com. [AIXD-G]

 

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate is the leading next generation filmed entertainment studio with a major presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company's prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles is an important source of recurring revenue that serves as the foundation for the growth of its core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.