BURBANK, Calif.—Mar 13, 2006
Technicolor Digital Cinema Selects Digital Cinema Projector from NEC as Part Of Alliance for Upcoming Beta Test
NEC’s STARUS Digital Cinema Projector Selected Based on Detailed Evaluation of Performance and Reliability Standards
Reinforcing its global leadership in digital
cinema, Thomson (Euronext 18453; NYSE: TMS) today announced that its Technicolor
Digital Cinema business, part of the Services division of Thomson, has selected
the STARUS line of digital cinema projectors from the Digital Cinema Division of
NEC Solutions (America), Inc. to include in its upcoming beta test of end-to-end
digital cinema services. Technicolor Digital Cinema and NEC Solutions America
have formed a strategic alliance to support and promote this initiative.
The digital cinema beta test is an important component of the Technicolor
Digital Cinema plan to ensure reliability and adherence to Digital Cinema
Initiative (DCI) standards prior to a nationwide rollout. The beta test, in up
to 200 theatres in North America, will test up to three different projector and
server configurations and is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2006.
The strategic alliance between Technicolor and NEC was formed to establish a
clear spirit of collaboration among both companies. Removing obstacles in the
working relationship will accelerate the development of best-in-class digital
cinema technologies, and the ultimate adoption of efficient and reliable digital
cinema solutions in theatres.
“We are pleased to have selected the NEC STARUS projector as part of our
upcoming beta test of digital cinema services in North America,” said Curt
Behlmer, senior vice president of digital cinema operations for Technicolor
Digital Cinema. “The NEC projector met our stringent requirements for
performance, reliability and functionality and should provide consumers with a
satisfying and dynamic cinema experience.”
“NEC is committed to delivering the latest in digital cinema solutions to our
clients,” said Kurt Schwenk, general manager of the Digital Cinema Division at
NEC Solutions America. “NEC’s strategic alliance with Technicolor is an example
of industry expertise working together to advance the adoption of
state-of-the-art technologies.”
NEC’s complete family of STARUS Digital Cinema projectors, announced today,
includes the STARUS NC2500S for large screen multiplexes; the STARUS NC1500C for
medium-sized movie screens; and the STARUS NC800C for small theatres, screening
rooms, and post-production facilities. Submitted for the Technicolor beta test,
the STARUS NC2500S is the world’s brightest DLP Cinema® projector for
large-sized screens 49 feet wide and larger[1]. NEC’s STARUS Digital Cinema
projectors deliver amplified brightness, sharper graphics and eye-catching
color, using DLP Cinema technology from Texas Instruments®. Delivering 2K
resolution and high contrast images (2000:1), the STARUS NC2500S Digital Cinema
projector is easy to operate and requires minimal maintenance.
NEC’s STARUS projector was selected after a rigorous evaluation at the
Technicolor Digital Cinema Test Center. To ensure the integrity and transparency
of its research methodology, Technicolor Digital Cinema first actively solicited
the participation of major hardware developers via an open request for
information (RFI) process, followed by the issuance of formal requests for
proposals (RFP) based on OEM interest and the scope of equipment details
provided to the company. Technicolor Digital Cinema then accepted projectors and
servers into its facility for evaluation based on the quality of RFP
submissions, and the willingness of manufacturer representatives to work closely
with staff engineers on test implementations and their corresponding findings.
During equipment evaluation and analysis, Technicolor Digital Cinema engineers
examined both server and projector abilities to efficiently handle such core
digital cinema operations as subtitle display, simultaneous playout and
movement, inter-server movement, automation, 2K and 4K interoperability,
alternative content playback, remote management, 3-D capabilities, and on-screen
advertising integration. Furthermore, the company also tested each unit’s ease
of distribution and back-of-house systems integration, since projectors and
servers are required by the Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI) specification to
work seamlessly with each other, and with different distribution and theatre
management systems.
Technicolor Digital Cinema, following the successful completion of the beta
test, plans an initial deployment of complete digital projection systems in up
to 5,000 DCI-compliant screens over the next 3-4 years. It is the strategic
intent of the company to introduce systems into at least 15,000
digitally-equipped screens in the United States and Canada over the next 10
years through the preliminary rollout and additional phases. The company
recently reached an understanding with Century Theatres, Inc. which calls for
the theatre chain to participate in the beta test, with the expectation that
Century will then participate in the broader rollout.
