MORRISTOWN, NJ,—Mar 31, 2009
Cinedigm, NEC, Ballantyne Team to Bring Digital Cinema Systems to Theatre Operators Nationwide
Strong Technical Services Will Provide Additional Service Program to Exhibitors
Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. (NASDAQ: CIDM) (formerly AccessIT), together with Ballantyne of Omaha, Inc. (NYSE Amex: BTN) and NEC Corporation of America announced today the mutual signing of a Supply Agreement to offer NEC digital cinema systems to theatres nationwide.
Under the agreement, NEC projectors would be sold to Cinedigm’s Phase 2 entity by Ballantyne pursuant to its Master Reseller agreement with NEC. The agreement also includes a service program from Ballantyne’s Strong Technical Services (STS) subsidiary. The service program provides exhibitors ongoing technical support and services including onsite installation and maintenance services.
“We are excited to have NEC, Ballantyne, and STS join us in our mission to digitally-equip theatres across the country,” said Bud Mayo, Chief Executive Officer of Cinedigm. “Based on our strict internal screening process and their reputation in the field, we are confident that NEC, Ballantyne and STS will provide industry-leading equipment and excellent service and support to prospective clients, and we look forward to working together in the years ahead.”
Chuck Goldwater, President of Cinedigm’s Media Services Group added, “This agreement underlines Cinedigm’s commitment to providing comprehensive vendor neutral solutions to our exhibitor partners. The addition of NEC, Ballantyne and STS to our roster of experienced vendor partners creates significant value for our clients by offering increased options and flexibility as they decide to convert to digital.”
“Ballantyne and STS are thrilled to team with Cinedigm to provide theatre owners the hardware, installation services, and training needed to create a seamless transition to digital operations,” stated John Wilmers, President and CEO of Ballantyne of Omaha. “We are confident exhibitor clients will be completely satisfied with our combined solution.”
“Cinedigm is the world’s leading provider of digital cinema technology and services and NEC is delighted to partner with them through Ballantyne in their ongoing rollout to theatres nationwide,” said Jim Reisteter, general manager, Digital Cinema Division, NEC Corporation of America. “Our collaboration with Cinedigm presents a valuable opportunity for NEC, and we look forward to working together to provide Cinedigm and its exhibitor customers the highest quality digital projection equipment and technical support throughout the upcoming years.”
Cinedigm’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 in the United States and Canada will provide networked, turnkey, Digital Cinema systems in conformance with DCI specifications.
To date, Cinedigm has contracted for and completed the rollout of nearly 4,000 systems in forty-one states with exhibitors including Atlas Theatres, Allen Theatres, Carmike Cinemas, Celebration! Cinema, Cinema West, Cinetopia, Dickinson Theatres, Emagine, Galaxy Cinema, Marquee Cinemas, Krikorian Premiere Theatres, MJR Theatres, Neighborhood Cinema Group, Premiere Cinema Corp., Rave Motion Picture Theatres, Showplace Cinemas, UltraStar, and Cinedigm’s own Pavilion Digital Showcase Theatre.
Cinedigm’s Digital Cinema offering includes 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 Cinedigm developed through its success with the Phase 1 plan.
