Morristown, N.J.—Sep 20, 2006
AccessIT Speeds Digital Availability of Alternative Content Through Exclusive Agreement with the Bigger Picture
- New Agreement Will Make Alternative Programming Immediately Available to Any Digitally-Equipped Theatre Nationwide -
Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. ("AccessIT") (NASDAQ:AIXD) announced today it has reached an exclusive agreement with alternative content provider The Bigger Picture (www.thebiggerpicture.us), to make its entertainment programming available to all exhibitors across the country equipped with 2K digital projectors, including more than 785 deployed as of August 31 by its Christie/AIX business unit.
Under terms of the agreement, The Bigger Picture and its Kidtoon Films Division have contracted with AccessIT to handle the 2K digital distribution of its programming for children, teens and adults. The programs include G-rated movies for kids on the weekends, anime films for teen and college audiences and inspirational films from Fox Faith, a unit of Twentieth Century Fox Studios. AccessIT will provide all back office management and delivery services, and will receive virtual print fees for feature content projected on AccessIT’s Christie/AIX deployed digital cinema systems at its exhibitor partners.
Bud Mayo, Chief Executive Officer of AccessIT, said: “One of the principal benefits of digital cinema is its ability to provide audiences with exciting forms of new, unique and targeted entertainment. The alternative content provided by The Bigger Picture can be a key factor in solving one of exhibitors’ greatest challenges, the significant and costly under-utilization of their theatres during ‘off-peak’ hours. This agreement is an important step in our efforts to demonstrate the value and availability of alternative content to exhibitors who have converted to cinema quality digital cinema systems. It will allow them to attract new and under-served audiences in their communities with live and pre-recorded specialty content such as the programs offered by The Bigger Picture.”
Jonathan Dern, Co-CEO of The Bigger Picture, commented: “We founded The Bigger Picture to fill a need in the marketplace for theatre content designed to cater to specific, under-served audiences at times when attendance is lowest. Digital technology has enabled us to dramatically broaden the accessibility to this content and AccessIT, as the leader in 2K digital cinema, is clearly the best possible partner for us.” Greg Rutkowski, Co-CEO of The Bigger Picture, stated “We look forward to making our content available for not only AccessIT’s deployed screens, but all exhibitors nationwide who have embraced 2K digital technology.”