Singapore—Mar 14, 2005
Christie Powers Cross-Continent D-Cinema Transmission
- Christie Collaborates with Singapore Government and International Industry Players to Enable Digital Content Transmission from USA to Asia -
Christie, first in DLP Cinema™ projection, announces today it has collaborated with the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) of Singapore, Singapore infocomm Technology Federation Digital Media Chapter (SiTF DMC), US-based Entertainment Technology Centre at the University of Southern California (ETC-USC) and other leading industry players to enable cross-continent digital content delivery.
Known as the Cross-Continent Digital Content Transmission (CCTx), the digital distribution model was recently pilot tested and secured a seamless end-to-end delivery from USA to Asia with successful playback from its official research site – Christie’s Singapore-based digital screening facility.
Managed out of Singapore, multiple industry players from processing to exhibition took part in this significant industry development. Thomson’s Technicolor Digital Cinema assumed a consultation role, GlobeCast, StarHub and 1-Net offered international and local circuit with data storage while Christie, Dell, Texas Instruments and XDC were the main technology providers to enable playback.
The recent CCTx pilot transmitted three digital movie trailers – "Elektra", "The Spongebob Squarepants Movie" and "Star Wars Episode III" – from USA-based Digital Cinema Laboratory in Culver City, Los Angeles, to Singapore-based 1-Net Data Centre. This 3.3GB digital content file was then delivered via a managed ATM fibre structure to Christie’s Singapore site and played back from a XDC Cinestore Solo Server with Omega Decoder through a Christie CP2000 Digital Cinema projector.
“We’re very pleased that our Singapore-based digital screening facility with our CP Series projector has been selected as the official research site for this industry-wide CCTx initiative. By working jointly with some of the leading names in the cinema community, we’re glad to be able to actively contribute to the evolution of cross-continent digital transfer developments using our latest projection technology,” commented Gordon Tay, director of sales, Christie. “Based on the 2K 3-chip DMD DLP CinemaTM Technology, our CP2000 projector is one of the world’s most comprehensive D-Cinema solutions and would allow us to deliver high performance, high-resolution 2048x1080-pixel projection with consistent playback for all the video data transferred to the research site.”
As part of Singapore’s Digital Exchange (DX) program, the success of CCTx pilot is foreseen to further strengthen the country’s Digital Cinema initiative to launch Singapore’ as an Asian hub to distribute, process and manage digital content through Singapore to the region. This first-time joint government-industry collaboration with the Singapore infocomm Technology Federation Digital Media Chapter (SiTF DMC) aims to develop this viable worldwide digital distribution model into a commercial application.
“The CCTx paves the way for a complete viable model that allows studios to deliver content digitally to Singapore, securely store it, localize it, and then distribute it to the region. As a Digital Exchange, Singapore has the capability to ensure reliable and accountable management, processing and distribution of digital content and assets from United States to the rest of Asia,” said Hock Yun Khoong, assistant chief executive, Industry, IDA. “The pilot is also attracting more industry partners and support to address the issues facing digital delivery.”
Pak Lum Mock, Chairman of SiTF DMC said, “By clustering the strengths of digital industry players in Singapore, we hope to create more partnership and business opportunities for them in Asia. The CCTx opens the door for such opportunities.”
Charles S. Swartz, Chief Executive Officer of Entertainment Technology Center at USC, said “Digital Cinema is poised to take off worldwide as a global, interoperable distribution system will be is necessary. Pilots such as CCTx are crucial to a successful rollout of Digital Cinema worldwide.”
About Singapore infocomm Technology Federation Digital Media Chapter (SiTF DMC)
The Digital Media Chapter (DMC) aims to promote and assist in the deployment and adoption of broadband technologies, digital media and entertainment content through strong working relations with government agencies, local trade associations, and international organizations. DMC is working with IDA, local and foreign industry players to develop the digital distribution network. It aims to enable digital content, digital images, video and audio content to be transmitted from one point to another securely and to help content owners monetized digital content.
About Singapore infocomm Technology Federation
The Singapore infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF) is Singapore’s premier infocomm trade industry association. It brings together more than 600 corporate members from MNCs and local companies, which together account for over 80% of industry revenues, and assists them in business development, market intelligence, overseas trade missions, networking and alliances. For more information on SiTF, please visit www.sitf.org.sg
