Raleigh, N.C.—May 26, 2004
Microspace Completes Phase One of Digital Cinema Pilot Program By Delivering Shrek 2 Via Satellite
Pilot to Continue Throughout Year, Making Digital Cinema Reality for Many
Microspace Communications Corporation (Microspace), the leading provider of
point-to-multipoint satellite services, announced today it has successfully
delivered Shrek 2 via satellite, completing the first phase of a pilot digital
cinema program with DreamWorks LLC. The digital film was delivered using
Microspace's VELOCITY® satellite service.
"Microspace has been preparing for this over the past two years by participating
in many test and demo situations with top entertainment industry companies and
executives. We have now moved from the lab to delivering the summer blockbuster
movie to a live theatre with paying customers," says Sam Matheny, manager of
digital cinema development for Microspace. "We are proud to be working with
DreamWorks to make digital cinema a reality and allow the public to experience
the benefits."
Shrek 2 was distributed to Galaxy Cinemas in Waterloo, Ontario. The next phase
of the program will involve gradually increasing the number of receive theatre
sites.
"While the industry continues to perfect digital servers and projectors, we are
still hand-delivering electronic files to theatres. Microspace's satellite
delivery is timely, secure and seamless," says Mark Christiansen, head of
operations for DreamWorks' distribution.
Microspace has been taking a leading role in digital cinema initiatives by being
the first to deliver 4K Standardized Evaluation Materials (StEM) via satellite.
It is one of the first satellite companies to obtain membership in the
International Theatre Equipment Association (ITEA) and a sponsor of the Digital
Cinema Laboratory's research and testing initiatives by donating a complete
VELOCITY satellite network package. Microspace is also a member of the Society
of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and its DC28 committee, a
forum to address technologies, and develop and recommend standards for digital
cinema.
Concluded Matheny, "With the successful kick off of the pilot, we are beginning
to move from the test phase of digital cinema to the commercial phase with so
much more to come."
