Omaha, Nebraska—May 25, 2005
Ballantyne of Omaha Advances Digital Cinema Strategy Through Distribution Agreement with NEC
Alliance Pairs NEC’s Full Line of Digital Cinema and In-Theatre Advertising Projectors, Servers and Software with Ballantyne’s Expansive Customer Base and Distribution Network
Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc. (Amex: BTN), a
manufacturer of motion picture projection and specialty lighting equipment,
today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with NEC Solutions
(America), Inc., a premier provider of integrated solutions for the Connected
Enterprise in North America, to distribute NEC’s full line of digital cinema and
in-theater advertising products, including DLP Cinema™ digital projectors, LCD
and plasma displays, servers and software.
Pursuant to the three-year agreement, Ballantyne will distribute all components
of NEC’s STARUS™ Digital Cinema System. This includes the full line of STARBeam™
iS8, iS15 and iS25 digital cinema projectors using DLP Cinema™ technology from
Texas Instruments®, STAR*Cor™ muliplex servers, and STAR*Show™ screen servers.
Ballantyne will also offer NEC’s digital pre-show projection systems complete
with servers and software, and digital lobby displays as part of NEC’s ADVASuite™
In-Theatre Advertising System. Ballantyne will market the NEC systems directly
to motion picture exhibitors through its internal sales force and via its
network of over 100 domestic and international dealers, as well as through its
web site, www.strong-cinema.com. The agreement includes distribution rights for
all of the Western Hemisphere, including the United States, Canada, Central and
South America, and the Caribbean.
John P. Wilmers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ballantyne, commented,
“This agreement aligns Ballantyne with one of the world’s premier innovators of
display and server technologies, paving the way for our participation in the
motion picture exhibition industry’s eventual transition from analog to digital
technology. As one of the three licensees of the Texas Instruments’ DLP digital
cinema technology, NEC has quickly established itself as the vendor of choice
for complete digital advertising and digital cinema solutions. We think pairing
NEC’s innovative products with Ballantyne’s industry relationships, distribution
network and sales expertise is a winning combination.”
“NEC is committed to simplifying adoption of digital cinema and in-theatre
advertising by offering all system elements through a single source,” commented
Kurt Schwenk, general manager, Digital Cinema Division of NEC Solutions America.
“Distributing our products through an industry leader like Ballantyne will
enhance our market penetration in the Americas and our ability to directly touch
decision makers in the theater equipment purchasing community.”
NEC’s STAR*Beam line of DLP Cinema projectors are the world’s smallest
integrated digital cinema projectors to employ Texas Instruments’ 2K DMD™
technology and exceed DLP Cinema guidelines for contrast ratio, colorimetry and
uniformity. All of NEC’s STAR*Beam digital cinema projectors offer pristine
images with their 2048 x 1080 pixel native resolution and achieve up to 14 foot
lamberts of brightness. NEC’s in-theatre and in-lobby advertising solutions
include ADVABeam™ auditorium projectors, as well as a comprehensive package of
flat-panel devices from NEC’s PlasmaSync® Series, Large-Screen LCD Series and
related server and software packages.
Ballantyne has been providing the motion picture exhibition industry quality
projection equipment and services since 1932, offering broad range of standard,
custom-made and ancillary equipment that can completely outfit and automate a
motion picture projection booth. The Company’s major customers include AMC
Entertainment, Inc., Regal Cinemas, Inc. and Loews Cineplex.
“We couldn’t have asked for a more committed partner than NEC Solutions America
to support our digital cinema aspirations,” added Mr. Wilmers. “While the market
for digital projection equipment thus far remains limited, we intend to
proactively market all of the NEC products with our customer base in advance of
the full-scale replacement cycle – especially the advertising and pre-show
programming equipment, which theater owners are deploying today.”
