Mumbai: Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. has inked a deal with Lionsgate wherein the latter will provide movies to digital cinema equipped theatres in the Phase 2 digital cinema program and will pay virtual print fees (VPFs) under a long-term agreement.
This agreement follows an announcement of a similar agreement between Lionsgate and AccessIT for AccessIT’s Phase 1 Digital Cinema Deployment Plan.
With a slate of seven digital cinema releases between now and the end of February, including Punisher: War Zone on December 5, The Spirit on Christmas day, Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail on February 20, as well as its first 3D feature My Bloody Valentine on January 16, Lionsgate will be a major provider of high quality digital cinema features for early Phase 2 customers.
"AccessIT has been a leader in shaping the digital cinema era of our industry. Lionsgate is very happy to extend commitment to AccessIT now to include their Phase 2 Digital Cinema Deployment Plan and the many new exhibitors we expect they will bring into the digital world. Digital cinema brings the highest quality viewing experience to audiences and provides the platform for 3D movies like Lionsgate’s My Bloody Valentine," said Lionsgate president domestic distribution Steve Rothenberg.
"Lionsgate continues to be a vital participant in the world of digital cinema, especially with their full release schedule over the coming months," said AccessIT’s Media Service Group president Chuck Goldwater. "Together with the other major studios we expect they will continue to keep the digital pipeline full, which will encourage more exhibitors to convert to digital in the coming months. We are proud to continue to strengthen our long and valued relationship with Rothenberg, Mike Polydoros and the entire Lionsgate team."
AccessIT’s Digital Cinema division is the industry-leading deployment program for Digital Cinema that provides the funding, installation support and administration for the company’s studio-supported Digital Cinema rollout plans. Its Phase 2 plan for up to an additional 10,000 screens will provide networked, turnkey, Digital Cinema systems in conformance with DCI specifications, including AccessIT’s unique Library Management Server(R) and Theatre Command Center(R) software. The system will also include digital projectors and JPEG 2000 media servers from a variety of vendors whose equipment is designed to meet the DCI specifications as well as a demanding set of performance and reliability requirements AccessIT developed through its success with the Phase 1 plan.
Lionsgate is the fifth studio to sign a content and VPF agreement for AccessIT’s Phase 2 Digital Cinema Deployment. Others include Disney, Fox, Paramount and Universal.
