Deluxe Digital Cinema Inc., a subsidiary of Deluxe Entertainment Services
Group Inc., and EchoStar Satellite Services, L.L.C., a subsidiary of EchoStar
Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), today announced the formation of Deluxe/EchoStar
LLC, a joint venture to build an advanced digital cinema satellite distribution
network targeting delivery to digitally equipped theaters in the U.S. and
Canada.
This
Deluxe/EchoStar Network brings the full power of the digital satellite
technology directly to the local multiplex.
With Deluxe as the leading worldwide provider of services in film and
digital media to the entertainment industry and EchoStar’s veteran experience
as a satellite services provider, Deluxe/EchoStar can deliver traditional 2D
and 3D feature films, live events, special content, and other programming
developed specifically for digitally equipped theaters at the highest quality with
the most coverage reliably and efficiently.
“EchoStar
Satellite Services has developed a strong partnership with Deluxe, one built on
a common foundation of superior service and innovative thinking,” said Dean
Olmstead, president of EchoStar Satellite Services. “Deluxe/EchoStar marks the
next evolution in theatrical distribution and exhibition, and gives distributors
and movie theaters confidence in partnering with a proven digital cinema
network.”
“We
began testing sites around the country with EchoStar about a year ago to
determine how best to develop the network,” said Cyril Drabinsky, President and
CEO, Deluxe Entertainment Services Group. “The results confirmed that delivering
feature films through our satellite network would provide optimum quality and
reliability for our customers, and present an open platform for easily
accommodating a variety of digital delivery services,” added Drabinsky.