Christie®, a global leader in digital cinema projection, today co-announced with Reading International, Inc. (NASDAQ: RDI) that a long-term VPF deployment agreement had been signed with the Australian and New Zealand subsidiaries of Reading, which will provide for the digital conversion of all of Reading Cinemas screens in those two countries.
“It’s tremendously important that we embrace DLP Cinema® technology and this requires that we invest in our cinemas to constantly improve the moviegoer’s experience,” said Wayne Smith, Managing Director, Reading, for Australia and New Zealand. “Following detailed negotiations, I’m pleased to be working alongside Christie, a leader in the cinema industry since 1929. Christie is the perfect provider of digital cinema technology to partner with, to keep Reading ahead in a rapidly-changing cinema landscape.”
The Reading subsidiaries own and operate cinemas throughout Australia and New Zealand, including the Company’s Pacific Rim flagship venue: the Courtenay Central Entertainment and Retail Centre in Wellington, New Zealand. In addition to owning and operating cinemas in Australia and New Zealand, Reading is also engaged in real estate development in North America, New Zealand and Australia and operates “Off-Broadway” live theaters in New York and Chicago.
Christie will supply a variety of its Christie Solaria® Series® 2K and 4K digital cinema projectors to Reading, as well as its current ‘big screen’ premium solution, the Christie® Duo dual-projector integration kit.
“Christie has deployed more than 38,000 digital cinema projectors, earning the appreciation and respect of exhibitors and moviegoers worldwide,” said Lin Yu, vice president, Christie Asia Pacific. “Our company is honored to be selected by Reading to keep them on the leading edge of cinema technology, including 3D, 4K and high frame rate (HFR) options in the years to come.”
Added Michael Bosworth, general manager for Christie Digital Systems Australia, “We stand ready to support Reading as they complete their transition to digital cinema; a conversion which will surely contribute to their overall cinema attendees’ satisfaction while supporting the company’s goal of adding to their stockholders’ value.”