At Sony Digital Cinema’s CinemaCon 2012 press conference today, the company demonstrated for the first time its Content Exchange Platform, a proof-of-concept marketplace for alternative, independent and repertory content that aims to provide exhibitors with a broad view of all content available to them, while providing content owners with a standardized distribution model for reaching exhibitors.
The marketplace would effectively enable exhibitors to “pull” content on demand, such as live or repertory events, and independent or classic films, rather than the “push” model currently employed where content owners seek out exhibitors.
“Alternative, independent and repertory content has become increasingly important to exhibitors’ businesses as they look for ways of generating incremental ticket and concession sales and attracting new customers,” said Gary Johns, senior vice president, Digital Cinema Solutions, Sony Electronics.
“The content marketplace driven by Sony’s Content Exchange Platform seeks to put a vast library of content at exhibitors’ fingertips, managing rights and distribution so that they can focus on building stronger relationships with their patrons and generating more revenue.”
The marketplace powered by Sony Digital Cinema’s Content Exchange Platform seeks to create an open content pipeline for exhibitors that simplifies the transaction process and makes content easier to find and show. The platform allows exhibitors to schedule content regularly, selecting from diverse programming while managing rights issues. While the project is in the proof-of-concept stage, the aim is that the Content Exchange Platform will be open to all content owners and exhibitors globally.
Sony will harness a wide range of expertise and technologies to bring the platform to life, including digital cinema systems, security management, network operations, distributor-exhibitor billing and theater management software. The platform is being developed in conjunction with the digital asset and content management experts at Sony DADC New Media Solutions.
More details on the Content Exchange Platform are expected in the second half of 2012.
For more information on today’s announcement, visit the Sony Digital Cinema website, or see us in person at CinemaCon 2012 at the Sony Digital Cinema booth, #2711 in the Augustus Ballroom, Emperor’s level in Caesars Palace.
