Arts Alliance pacts with Amsterdam Booking Co. for digital rollout

http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/news-and-features/news/digital-cinema/e3if2aba79ad08ad34ccc7186a8e5f7bd00

 

Feb 2, 2009

 

Arts Alliance Media (AAM), Europe’s leading digital-cinema provider, reached an exclusive agreement with the Amsterdam Booking Company B.V. (ABC), a buying group representing Dutch independent cinemas, to supply and integrate digital cinema in 68 screens within 20 cinemas across The Netherlands. The deal also covers the installation of a professional satellite network for the transmission of live events and encrypted content.

The ABC rollout will start immediately in order to equip screens for the Feb. 11 Dutch release of Disney’s 3D film Bolt, the first wide 3D release in The Netherlands. Screens in Heerenveen, Heerlen, Schagen, Spijkenisse, Venray, Weert and Zutphen will receive the new installations.

Under the conditions of the agreement, AAM will create a fully integrated DCI-compliant digital-cinema and satellite network within the ABC group of cinemas. The agreement requires AAM to procure, service and maintain all digital-cinema systems deployed, including projectors and servers, central storage servers and a Theatre Management System. ABC and AAM have jointly selected Christie projectors and Doremi servers for the deployment. FTT Filmtronics will carry out the installations and provide maintenance and local support. The satellite equipment will be provided by Arqiva Satellite and Media.

Paul Visser, ABC’s owner, said, “We see clearly what the future of cinema is going to be—digital, 3D and live events. AAM is the best partner to make that happen and enable us to be the first widespread movers in The Netherlands.”

Howard Kiedaisch, chief executive officer of AAM, stated, “We are honored to have been chosen by ABC for this highly significant deployment. Our commitment is to help all cinemas convert to digital, regardless of size or location, and having ABC on board proves that our program works for independents as well as big chains.”

Amsterdam Booking Company programs cinemas throughout The Netherlands and has a share of 10% in the Dutch market. ABC also advises the connected cinemas on marketing, management and future development.

To date, AAM has a European footprint of 420 installed and operated digital-cinema screens in the U.K., France, Spain and Norway. AAM was the first digital-cinema provider in Europe to sign virtual-print-fee-based deployment agreements with studios and exhibitors.