Hollywood, CA—Sep 8, 2004
DCI Announces Completion of Overall System Requirements and Specifications for Digital Cinema; Member Studios Unanimously Agree to Extended Term
igital Cinema Initiatives, LLC (DCI)
announced today the completion of the overall system requirements and
specifications for digital cinema with the upcoming release of Version 5.0 of
the voluntary DCI Technical Specification. The document will be available on
September 30, 2004, which coincides with the end of DCI’s Initial Term. DCI
Member studios also unanimously agreed to an extended term of twelve months in
order to refine the technical specification and architecture, to enhance the
security aspect of the specification, to perform system interoperability tests,
and to support formalization of industry standards.
With the end of DCI’s Initial Term, and with it the end of any significant
business planning activities by DCI staff, CEO Chuck Goldwater is leaving the
company. “Chuck has done an excellent job leading DCI and facilitating the
development of potential scenarios for the financing and deployment of digital
cinema,” said the DCI board members in a joint statement. “Through his hard work
and dedication, the studios have received a number of promising rollout and
financing proposals. We have also been provided with a wealth of information and
insight as we look ahead to continue our respective individual studio efforts to
move toward the rollout of digital cinema. We are all grateful for his
contributions to DCI and to the advancement of digital cinema as a whole.
“It’s been a privilege for me to be a part of DCI and the work we’ve done over
the past two years,” said Goldwater, “and I thank the member studios for this
extraordinary opportunity. I am proud of what we have contributed to helping
bring the industry to the threshold of the digital cinema future, and I am
excited to see that future become a reality.
DCI Technical Specification Version 5.0 represents the conclusion of the
process to define the system requirements and to outline the overall
specifications for digital cinema. With the principal objectives accomplished,
DCI’s focus will shift to refining the Technical Specification to aid
productization of the digital cinema system. DCI’s work, during the extended
term, will include providing further detail to the security aspect of the
specification and performing system interoperability tests with the interchange
of digital cinema files across equipment of multiple manufacturers.
DCI will maintain its support of the formalization of industry standards by
SMTPE, ISO, and other trade organizations as well as its close working
relationship with NATO, UNIC, individual exhibitors, manufacturers, and vendors.
DCI will also examine the process of certification and compliance in conjunction
with industry participants.
DCI's day to day operational and management responsibilities will be assumed by
Walt Ordway, Chief Technology Officer, and Steve Tsai, Executive Director of
Administration and Business Development. No replacement is being sought for Mr.
Goldwater.
CTO Walt Ordway will continue to represent DCI in domestic and international
venues, and in ongoing technical planning. His duties will include overseeing
the remaining technical effort and the DCI technical team, in conjunction with
the technical representatives from the studios. He will be an active participant
in key domestic and international trade conferences and in continuing the
ongoing dialogue and communication with NATO and other industry constituents.
“DCI remains committed to working with the industry to promote the conversion
from celluloid to digital,” said Ordway. “We look forward to continuing the
dialogue with the digital cinema stakeholders as the DCI spec is applied in the
real world.”
Jim Whittlesey, Director of Technology, and Steve Tsai will also remain at DCI.
In addition, Steve Tsai is being promoted to Executive Director, Administration
and Business Development, and will continue in his capacity overseeing DCI’s
business administration, coordinating with legal counsel and other outside
services, and providing the necessary operational support for the remaining
technical work to be completed by DCI.
Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC (DCI) was created in March 2002, as a joint
venture of Disney, Fox, MGM, Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal
and Warner Bros. Studios. DCI’s primary purpose is to establish and document
voluntary specifications for an open architecture for digital cinema that
ensures a uniform and high level of technical performance, reliability and
quality control. DCI also facilitated the development of business plans and
strategies to help spur deployment of digital cinema systems in movies theatres.
