LAS VEGAS, Nev.—Mar 14, 2006
Technicolor Digital Cinema Selects Barco Digital Projector For North American Digital Cinema Beta Test
Barco’s D-Cine Premiere DP100 Digital Projectors Chosen Based On Superior Equipment Performance, Reliability, and Functionality
Barco today announced that Technicolor Digital Cinema,
part of the Services division of Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) has
selected Barco’s D-Cine Premiere DP100 digital projector model for deployment in
the company’s upcoming North American beta test of end-to-end digital cinema
services and equipment. The announcement was made in Las Vegas at ShoWest, the
largest gathering of motion picture professionals and theatre owners in the
world, and a prominent showcase for digital cinema technologies.
The Technicolor Digital Cinema beta test is a critical element of the company’s
plans to ensure equipment reliability and adherence to Digital Cinema
Initiatives, LLC (DCI) standards prior to its North American rollout. The beta
test, covering approximately 200 theatres throughout the United States and
Canada, will evaluate up to three different projector and server configurations,
and will begin in the second quarter of 2006.
“The digital cinema space is a dynamic, vibrant market which is changing daily,
and exhibitors are quickly realizing that a bright, new cinema experience awaits
them — now, and in the future, said Stephan Paridaen, president of Barco’s Media
& Entertainment division. “Barco is honored to be part of Technicolor Digital
Cinema’s beta test deployment, which places both companies at the leading edge
of digital cinema’s expansion throughout North America. This is a great
partnership between two industry leaders.”
“Technicolor Digital Cinema is delighted to have selected the Barco D-Cine
Premiere DP100 digital projector for inclusion in the company’s North America
beta test of digital cinema services and hardware,” said Curt Behlmer, senior
vice president of digital cinema operations for Technicolor Digital Cinema. “The
decision to go with Barco as an essential beta test participant was based on the
manufacturer’s extensive digital projection expertise, and the projector’s
sophisticated engineering, high-brightness output, superior optics, and
impressive performance and functionality.”
Each Barco D-Cine projector offers 2048 x 1080 native resolution, and a 2000:1
contrast ratio, meeting or exceeding the SMPTE standards for screen brightness.
Based on Texas Instruments’ DLP Cinema™ technology, the DP90 is purpose-built
for screens up to 15m (49 ft.) wide, while the DP100 is designed for screens up
to 20m (65.6 ft.) wide.
At its headquarters in Burbank, Calif., Technicolor Digital Cinema performed
rigorous testing over the past several months on many digital cinema projectors
and servers. Based on the results of those tests, Technicolor Digital Cinema
chose Barco’s 2K D-Cine projector for installation in numerous beta test site
locations. Following its beta test, Technicolor Digital Cinema plans to deploy
digital projection systems in up to 5,000 screens over the next three to four
years, with the strategic intent to install systems in at least 15,000 screens
over the next 10 years in the United States and Canada.
During equipment evaluation and analysis, Technicolor Digital Cinema engineers
examined both server and projector abilities to efficiently handle such core
digital cinema operations as subtitle display, simultaneous playout and
movement, inter-server movement, automation, 2K and 4K interoperability,
alternative content playback, remote management, 3-D capabilities, and on-screen
advertising integration. The company also tested each unit’s ease of
distribution and back-of-house systems integration, since projectors and servers
are required by the DCI specification to work seamlessly with each other, and
with different distribution and theatre management systems.
