Morristown, N.J—Jul 13, 2004
21 Digital Cinema Systems Activated at 19 Theatres Across the U.S.
Access Integrated Technologies "Re-Lights" Majority of Digital Cinema Systems Acquired From Boeing Digital Cinema
Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. ("AccessIT") (AMEX: AIX) today announced that
it has completed the re-commissioning of 21 of the 28 installed Digital Cinema systems
acquired in March 2004 from Boeing Digital Cinema, a former business unit of Boeing
Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), part of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA).
Plans are underway for the re-commissioning and/or re-deployment of six additional
systems on or before July 16th. The last installed projector purchased from Boeing,
is expected to be operational on July 23rd. Technical support services for AccessIT's
efforts are being provided by Christie Digital Systems, Inc.
This re-commissioning effort is a core component of the company's mission to support
the rollout of digital cinema technologies and follows the recent launch of a Los
Angeles-based, dedicated digital cinema satellite delivery system, announced in
May.
"Getting the systems re-lit and operative quickly after we closed the deal with
Boeing is gratifying and marks yet another milestone in the development of digital
cinema. By linking these projectors to our newly operational digital cinema satellite
delivery system, AccessIT can now demonstrate the power and convenience of fully
automated content delivery in support of the upcoming summer movie-going season,"
commented Russell Wintner, President of AccessIT's digital delivery subsidiary Access
Digital Media. "Furthermore, we are very pleased to now be able to support the multiple
studio requests for digitally-enabled screens as summer films open, the precursor
to what is expected to be a huge summer season," Wintner added.
As part of this re-commissioning effort, the satellite transmission system was redeployed,
tested and is now certified for full-time operation.
AccessIT expects to announce shortly, agreements with several motion picture studios
for the satellite transmission and first-run showing of major summer movies on many
of the re-certified theatre systems across the country.
Some of the recently re-commissioned digital cinema systems are located in the following
theatres:
* Cinema Hollywood - Birch Run, MI
* Cinerama Theatre - Seattle, WA
* Paradiso and Cordova Cinemas - Memphis, TN
* Loews Theatres 600 North Michigan - Chicago, IL
* Loews Theatres 34th Street - New York, NY
* Loews Theatres 42nd Street E-Walk - New York, NY
* Lowes Theatres Boston Commons - Boston, MA
* Loews Theatres Meteron - San Francisco, CA
* Magic Johnson Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
* UltraStar Chula Vista 10 - Chula Vista, CA
* UltraStar Del Mar - Del Mar, CA
* UltraStar La Costa 6 - Carlsbad, CA
* Universal City 18 - Universal City, CA
* Loews Theatres - Southfield, Detroit, MI
* Loews Theatres - Rio, Gaithersburg, MD
As part of the re-commissioning process, AccessIT is carefully evaluating and upgrading
a variety of legacy and proprietary technologies incorporated in the Boeing systems
including its servers and encoder. These systems require unique knowledge and support
systems and are, accordingly, being relocated to providers such as Modern Videofilm
of Glendale, California, that can aid the company in supporting any user wishing
to utilize this technology. "These complex systems are an important reminder of
the need for standards. Going forward this year, we plan to replace all of our legacy
equipment with the upcoming industry-standard, DCI/SMPTE-compliant hardware and
software," Wintner concluded.
