Arts Alliance Media receives new funding for digital rollout in Europe

http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/news-and-features/news/digital-cinema/e3i5b7ea61434be7390c9593b9d811eaf8d

 

Dec 11, 2008

Arts Alliance Media (AAM), Europe’s leading provider of digital-cinema technology, deployment and content, signed agreements for 43 million euros of funding from pan-European services company Econocom and various private investors, together with a long-term strategic partnership agreement with Arqiva Satellite & Media for the satellite distribution of films and alternative-content live events into European cinemas.

Econocom Financial Services will provide financing of 20 million euros for the purchase of equipment to complete the Circuit George Raymond’s (CGR Cinemas) digital-cinema deployment in France. CGR Cinemas, based in La Rochelle, has already installed 126 digital screens to date via its virtual print fee-based rollout agreement with AAM and is aiming to complete the digital conversion of 100% of the circuit’s 400 screens by spring 2009.

The additional 23 million euros has been raised from private investors and will fund the continued growth of AAM, with particular focus on building up the group’s infrastructure and support network for its European digital-cinema deployment business, as well as developing new and emerging revenue streams. The new investors will have a minority shareholding in the AAM group.

Howard Kiedaisch, AAM’s chief executive officer said, “We are delighted to announce this fantastic news, especially in today’s challenging economic climate.
The significant investments and new partnerships with Econocom and Arqiva are a tremendous boost, and strengthen us to forge ahead with building the largest digital-cinema delivery network in Europe, to which we can deliver digital content—films, alternative programming and live events.”

Jocelyn Bouyssy, general manager of CGR Cinemas, commented, “We are delighted to see that, in the current market, the VPF model is clearly validated and supported by financial partners. We hope that the completion of our digital rollout in spring 2009 will convince all French distributors to jump on board and seize the tremendous opportunities of digital cinema and 3D.”

The Arqiva/AAM partnership agreement sets out an action plan for the development of a content-delivery platform and network for film distribution via secure satellite. Extensive research, development and testing have already been
completed. In October 2008, AAM and Arqiva successfully distributed the 2008
Palme d'Or winning film Entre Les Murs (The Class) to CGR Cinemas’ megaplex site in Villenave d'Ornon, Bordeaux, France. The full digital-cinema package, a 216 GB file, was transmitted via the Intelsat 905 satellite direct to the library server at the cinema, without any operator intervention. Arqiva and AAM have also been working together recently on the live HD transmissions of opera and ballet performances from the Royal Opera House and other leading venues to cinemas across Europe.

To date, AAM has a European footprint of 402 installed and operated digital-cinema screens, and its in-house digital cinema lab has mastered over 422 digital-cinema titles.