Last week at ShoWest 2010, Sony Electronics announced it has
entered into purchase agreements with Digital Cinema Implementation Partners,
under which Sony Digital Cinema 4K projection systems will be deployed to both AMC
Entertainment Inc. and Regal Entertainment Group theatres across the United States.
AMC and Regal are the two largest theater
chains in North America.
“We
are pleased that AMC and Regal have recognized the benefits of Sony’s 4K
technology and we are now moving forward,” said Gary Johns, vice president of
Sony’s Digital Cinema Systems Division. “AMC and Regal’s commitment to
Sony 4K will significantly
accelerate the expansion of digital cinema, and also enable exhibitors to
provide their customers with a more dynamic and immersive movie-going
experience on a much broader scale.”
Both
AMC and Regal plan to install the Sony 4K systems across their circuits,
creating the most extensive 4K deployment to date, with many of the screens
planned to be outfitted for 3D using a combination of Sony and RealD 3D
projection technology.
“We believe
digital cinema enables the future for our industry, as it provides us
versatility and delivers our guests a better entertainment experience,” said
Gerry Lopez, president and CEO of AMC. “Sony’s 4K digital systems take
the customer experience to the next level. We are proud to install their
systems in our circuit.”
“Regal
Entertainment Group selected Sony 4K systems because they provide the highest
resolution possible for a picture-perfect presentation,” said Amy Miles, CEO of
Regal Entertainment Group. “Regal is now poised to expedite our
nationwide digital rollout of Sony 4K projectors and 3D technology. Regal
continues to accelerate the expansion of RealD locations and our capacity for
presenting 3D movies. Digital 3D movies have already proven to be a big hit at
Regal’s box offices. Patrons have enthusiastically responded to our Sony
4K projectors for a truly state-of-the-art experience.”
Sony
4K projectors offer the highest image resolution of commercial cinema
projection technologies in the market, producing 8.8 million pixels. 4K
technology provides image resolution approximately four times greater than 2K
projection systems and consumer high-definition televisions.
The
digital projection systems deployed by DCIP will comply with the technical and
security specifications developed by the Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC. DCIP has executed long-term deployment
agreements with Twentieth Century Fox, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, and Lionsgate
Films.
