Access installs 1000th digital cinema

MUMBAI: Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. has completed the installation and commissioning of Christie/AIX’s 1,000th digital cinema system, utilizing Christie CP2000 projectors and services in the US.

Christie/AIX, a wholly owned subsidiary, was formed by AccessIT and Christie Digital Systems in June 2005 to serve as both integrator and administrator of a planned initial 4,000-screen digital cinema rollout. Supported by all of Hollywood‘s major studios and major independent distributors, Christie/AIX is providing exhibitors with fully-integrated and networked digital cinema systems designed to conform to technical specifications set last year by DCI, a consortium of the major Hollywood studios.

The systems feature 2K DLP Cinema projectors, JPEG-2000 media players, a central server running AccessIT’s unique Theatre Command Center software, two-way satellite connectivity, and some of the more robust security elements of the DCI Technical Specification including Cine-Link2 and video watermarking. When the plan was initiated last summer, only a handful of 2K digital cinema systems were operating worldwide in commercial cinemas. Today, as the movie industry’s transition to digital continues to gain momentum around the world, the Christie/AIX effort is the single largest deployment of Digital Cinema equipment in the world, representing the vast majority of the Digital Cinema systems now serving movie audiences.

“Today’s announcement is an important achievement not only for the movie industry — the studios and exhibitors — but for the movie-loving public. This achievement would not have been possible without the commitment and ongoing support of the studios, independent distributors, and our exhibitor partners as well as the tireless work of our talented teams at AccessIT and Christie. This milestone is only the beginning of what we expect to accomplish working together to reach our long-term goal of delivering the benefits of Digital Cinema to millions of movie-goers in the US and around the world,” said AccessIT’s Media Services Group president Chuck Goldwater.

Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. president and COO Jack Kline added, “We are pleased to play a leadership role with AccessIT in exhibition’s historic move to digital technology. The dramatic acceleration of global installations today is a testament to the proven technology, software, and services integrated in each system. Digital Cinema is a ‘win-win’ situation for the entire industry, by providing brilliant, razor-sharp images to audiences everywhere. This is an exciting time for all those involved and we all look forward to even greater achievements in the future.”