Salt Lake City—Jul 11, 2005
Technicolor Selects Mainstream Data as Satellite Provider for SkyArc™
Digital Cinema Network
Mainstream Data announced today that
it has entered into an agreement with Thomson and its Technicolor Digital
Cinema business to provide an end-to-end high-speed digital satellite
network for the distribution of pre-show content to theatres across North
America. Mainstream Data will be the provider of satellite distribution
services for Technicolor's SkyArc™ system.
The proprietary Technicolor SkyArc system has been designed to serve the
unique needs of digital cinema advertising and is being used to distribute
the digital pre-show program for Screenvision, the largest cinema
advertising company in the United States. It is built on state-of-the-art
technologies including High Definition MPEG-2 content, 5.1 digital surround
sound, high brightness digital projection, secure encryption of content, and
satellite or broadband distribution to theatres across North America.
The SkyArc system design represents a significant step forward for cinema
advertising, including the first completely High Definition cinema
advertising network being deployed in North America today. As part of the
roll out, Technicolor Digital Cinema will deploy Mainstream Data DVB+™
satellite receivers and associated applications, plus high brightness
digital projectors in Screenvision partner theatres.
"After an exhaustive process of vetting leading satellite networking
companies, we chose Mainstream because of its outstanding technology and
unparalleled twenty-year record of providing survival-dependent content
distribution services for the world's leading content creators," according
to Tim Rust, general manager, Operations, Technicolor Digital Cinema. "With
an application like ours, we couldn't afford but to select a reliable and
proven service provider such as Mainstream."
Scott E. Calder, President and CEO of Mainstream Data, said "We are
extraordinarily gratified that Technicolor Digital Cinema selected us as its
satellite-based network services provider. We see this win as another
ratification of our strategy of providing the world's leading no-compromises
digital media networks including interactive distance learning, digital
signage, and business television."
According to Maureen Ahern, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at
Mainstream, "The Technicolor bidding process was extremely demanding and
rigorous, a real model for the industry. There were high expectations to
satisfy in terms of our DVB satellite receiver, our technical integration
and our IP expertise. But at the end of the day, Technicolor told us that it
was our absolute determination to meet their needs that made the
difference."
