Building on the success of the Phase 1 Christie/AIX Digital Cinema deployment plan, Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. ("AccessIT") (NASDAQ:AIXD) and Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. (Christie) announced today the signing of a Supply Agreement to bring Digital Cinema Systems including Christie projectors to theatres in the United States and Canada. Christie will provide up to 5,000 projectors for the previously announced AccessIT Phase 2 Digital Cinema Deployment Plan.
As in the Phase 1 Plan, Christie will again provide turn-key digital systems featuring its full line-up of DLP Cinema® projectors including the Christie CP2000-SB, Christie CP2000-XB, Christie CP2000-ZX and the latest Christie CP2000-M model for screens up to 35 feet wide. All models now feature the latest industry advancement, Christie Brilliant3D™ technology, providing 33% more brightness in full 2K resolution for 3D content.
“In Phase 1, AccessIT and Christie made digital cinema a reality. Together we completed the conversion of more than 3,700 screens. In Phase 2, AccessIT is aiming even higher with a goal of installing 10,000 screens over the coming three years. It just makes sense to continue working with the company with whom we’ve shared tremendous success. We’re looking forward to seeing the installations begin and we know that Christie will be an important asset to our Phase 2 objectives,” said Bud Mayo, chairman and CEO of AccessIT.
"Together with AccessIT, we've had three successful years in digital cinema leading the transformation in the industry with the first network technology and business model," commented Jack Kline, president & COO, Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. "Now, we're entering a new phase that will see rapid change in the landscape of commercial cinema and we're excited about the opportunities ahead. Our years of experience working together on the first large scale deployment has created a solid foundation for reliability and enhanced operational efficiency for exhibitors."
“Over the last three years that AccessIT and Christie have worked together we’ve provided an effective technology and operational foundation for our 15 exhibitor partners including turnkey installation and an ongoing maintenance program from Christie’s industry-leading Managed Services division,” said Chuck Goldwater, President of AccessIT’s Media Services Group. “That foundation has made possible the benefits of digital cinema for distributors and exhibitors by enabling the growing businesses of 3D movies and alternative content programming including live 2D and 3D events. We are pleased to continue our successful working partnership with Jack Kline, Craig Sholder, Sean James and the entire Christie team in their Cypress, CA and Kitchener, Ontario facilities.”
AccessIT’s Digital Cinema is the industry-leading deployment program for Digital Cinema that provides the funding, installation support and administration for the company's studio-supported Digital Cinema rollout plans. Its Phase 2 plan for up to an additional 10,000 screens will provide networked, turnkey, Digital Cinema systems in conformance with DCI specifications, including AccessIT’s unique Library Management Server® and Theatre Command Center® software. The system will also include digital projectors and JPEG 2000 media servers from a variety of vendors whose equipment is designed to meet the DCI specifications as well as a demanding set of performance and reliability requirements AccessIT developed through its success with the Phase 1 plan.
