Sweden - Stockholm—Aug 28, 2006
XDC Sweden celebrates a successful first year track-record with over 25 films digitally screened on over 60 installations.
With over 60 digital cinema installations throughout Sweden (spread from Malmö in the south to Kiruna in the north), XDC is the leading digital cinema player in the country. “Going digital is probably the only way to survive for smaller cinemas,” says Peter Wester, Business Development Manager of XDC in Sweden, who continues “XDC rental system offers a convenient way for main stream cinemas and multiplex venues to go digital in an economic and safe way. Furthermore, XDC guarantees flexibility and up to date technology.”
Regis Raway, XDC Services Sales Manager states “Within about one year, over 25 digital movies have been processed by XDC Lab.” XDC processing includes the preparation of the content for physical distribution based on encrypted files, the quality control and the archiving, as well as the dubbed Swedish version for some films where the Original Version is not a Swedish one. Regis Raway continues “XDC is the only digital cinema operator to offer a generic media … this disk is particularly well suited for the Swedish market, because it can travel from one screen to another and play successively. In this case, the key is placed on the disk, which means that the movie can move from one site to another, but that the movie can only play if the disk is plugged into the server.” As a consequence, the number of producers and distributors who entrust digital distribution logistical services to XDC are continuously increasing.
“As a global leader in providing end-to-end technology solutions and operational services for the delivery of digital cinema to the theatres in Europe, XDC offers a complete range of economically efficient solutions and services for the whole production, distribution and exhibition chain.”, says Bernard Collard, XDC General Manager, who adds “XDC is offering customised technical and financial solutions adapted to the specificities of the fragmented European market. Sweden is a good showcase of specialised digital circuit where the majority of the installations are equipped with DLP Standard® projectors. XDC believes it is the intention of all content providers to continue to supply content to those remote and tiny communities, who currently often receive movies on nearly worn-out 35mm copies several weeks after the first run houses in the larger conurbations have stopped showing the films. So that cinema-going in these communities does not become extinct, there have to be clear solutions that improve the quality for the cinemas in these communities, for whom the movie-house is often the only cultural meeting point for miles around. XDC is working closely with all distributors and exhibitors on fully serviced solutions that integrate seamlessly into the XDC network, to make sure all cinema-goers continue to see the movies they want to see, and enjoy the benefits of better quality projection, far beyond anything they see today.” Today, all the exhibitors have signed a rental contract with XDC. At any time, during the five-year contract period, exhibitor may acquire ownership of the equipment by exercising a determined purchase option. In addition, the exhibitors who have initially chosen DLP Standard® projectors are allowed to upgrade to 2K DLP Cinema® projectors.
Today XDC is working together with Impact Europe in Sweden in order to boost the digital cinema roll out in Sweden. Jonas Angervall says “We are delighted to have the opportunity to be established within digital cinema. Our geographic spread from the south to the north and our broad expertise has paved the way for our partnership with XDC on the Swedish market. Impact Europe as an AV solutions provider, positioned in the Audio, Video, Data and Communication Systems Integration market will give XDC’s customers a strong partner for installations, service and support. To XDC’s solutions we will add with our broad expertise, all the other components for a complete solution with audio, light, datapresentation tools and controlsystems to manage all theatre equipment in a userfriendly way.”
XDC will held a digital event in the Park Biograf in Stockholm on the 31st of August 2006. The attendees will come from the Swedish film industry, the cultural sector and the press. The XDC panellists will present some demo content and will give an update about digital cinema in Europe, with a special focus on Sweden. Barco will provide a state-of-the-art 2K DLP Cinema® projector for the demo show.
