Eastman Kodak Company and Barco announced
today they have formed a strategic alliance to more effectively serve the
worldwide digital cinema market with a full menu of products, systems, and
services, including installation and support.
Kodak has a legacy of innovation in entertainment imaging and is the world’s
leading independent supplier of digital cinema systems for pre-show use; Barco
is a worldwide leader in high-quality, high-resolution digital cinema projection
systems and is one of only three licensees of Texas Instruments DLP Cinema™
Technology.
The new alliance has two purposes: It enables each company to sell – and to
provide support for – complete integrated digital cinema solutions. The
solutions will combine systems and services from each company, optimized for
image quality and reliability. The alliance also will allow Kodak and Barco to
collaborate on innovative and differentiated solutions for the future.
Bill Doeren, general manager of Kodak Digital Cinema says that customers will
have the assurance of two highly-respected brands joining forces to take care of
their full digital cinema needs.
“Barco has a long-term commitment to high quality leadership in digital cinema,”
Doeren says. “We’re already working with them in three multiplexes in key U.S.
cities, showing major Hollywood movies on a regular movie schedule. Audiences
are thrilled with the system’s performance. By combining Kodak’s capabilities with theirs, we
can jointly provide a complete solution to the marketplace now and in the
future.”
“Kodak is a respected entertainment industry leader in the areas of color
science and imaging technology, and has demonstrated leadership in advanced
cinema technology areas,” says Nico Vernieuwe, VP of Barco Digital Cinema.
“Kodak and Barco have a proven ability to simplify complexity by understanding
our customers’ needs and applying our world-class capabilities to meet them.
This new partnership will be a good fit for both companies and for our customers
worldwide.”
“In North America we believe the partnership will provide an enhanced digital
cinema solution for our studio, postproduction, feature film, and exhibition
customers by offering Kodak’s service network, systems integration, and support
infrastructure along with Barco’s digital projection solutions,” says Scott
Spector, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Barco Digital Cinema,
North America
The digital cinema market for feature presentations is still in its early stages
of evolution, although Barco has already installed 2K digital projectors in
upwards of nearly 200 screens worldwide, putting it in a leadership position as
the market emerges.
“Our customers will decide when the time is right, when it makes sense for
them to begin widespread deployment of systems and to support that with a broad
distribution of movies in digital form,” says Doeren. “But our alliance with
Barco says clearly – we’re ready to move forward.”
The companies will collaborate on sales and marketing, service and support, and
systems development. Both companies have unique intellectual property that will
provide advantages in digital cinema products and systems of the future.
As part of the agreement, Barco will use Kodak color science and image
management to expand the capability and performance of its cinema projectors.
“We are providing a high-quality solution that is right for today, but also the
right investment for the future,” says Vernieuwe. “Our customers can trust that
we will continue to grow with them and help them become more comfortable and
confident with digital cinema.” “Our relationship with Barco is really about
working together in innovative ways to improve the quality, the creativity, and
the uniqueness of the whole cinema experience,” says Doeren. “As we do that
together, the whole industry – including movie audiences worldwide – will
benefit.”
The two companies will highlight their alliance in demonstrations and other
joint activities at the upcoming Cinema Expo International convention and trade
show in Amsterdam, June 27-30.