Arts Alliance signs Japanese deal

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118016394.html?categoryid=1442&cs=1&query=digital+cinema

Posted: Fri., Mar. 12, 2010, 7:47am PT

Pact represents company's first foray into Asia

By IAN MUNDELL

BRUSSELS — European digital cinema company Arts Alliance Media has inked a strategic partnership with Broadmedia in Japan.

AAM will advise Broadmedia on technology issues and provide support as the Japanese company rolls out a digital cinema deployment plan.

The core of the deal is a license to use AAM's digital cinema software. This includes theater management and back-office systems, handling tasks such as content scheduling, hardware management and reconciling virtual print fee data.

Deal will be exclusive for Japan, and represents a first Asian venture for AAM, which has installed more than 650 digital screens in Europe.

Company sees this as a significant step in demonstrating that its systems are exportable, and can be supported from Europe.

Deal does not extend to AAM's VPF tie-up with Hollywood majors Fox, Universal, Sony, Paramount and Disney. Broadmedia will have to broker its own deals, expanding its existing theatrical distribution business.

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