GDC Technology Limited (‘GDC’), a leading global provider of digital cinema solutions, announced today that they have completed integration with Golden Screen Cinemas Sdn Bhd (‘GSC’) to automate the secure delivery of the Key Delivery Messages (‘KDM’) utilizing GDC’s Central Management Solution (CMS-3000), representing a major step towards fully automated management of booth operations.
GSC is the first major cinema circuit outside of USA that has adopted this automation technology. By automating the delivery of KDMs, GSC can now streamline and simplify the process of managing and distributing encryption keys for digital cinema content across its network of cinemas. This automation not only enhances operational efficiency but also strengthens security measures, ensuring that only authorized content is accessed and exhibited.
As the leading cinema exhibitor in Malaysia with over 540 screens across 56 locations nationwide, GSC delivers innovative, integrated, and enriching lifestyle experiences through state-of-the-art cinematic technologies, merchandising, F&B, promotions, events, and more. something for everyone under one roof at GSC with key USPs, including:
· IMAX with Laser Halls, the first of its kind in Malaysia, bringing action-packed movies to life, with vibrant color contrast and sharper visual clarity;
· 4DX , bringing your senses to life through a total immersive experience with motion-sensor seats and stimulated effects of snow, water and scents based on the movie;
· ScreenX, offering an immersive viewing experience for movie-goers with a 270° screen;
· PlayHalls, specially designed for families with kids, with family-friendly activities, complete end-to-end amenities for convenience under one roof, offering GSC Play, GSC PlayPlus and GSC Playpark locations;
· BIG Screens, complete with big format screens and spatial, crisp audio;
· Happy Food Co, fuss-free café dining for any time of day, be it quick lunches, catch-ups with friends, or last-minute grabs before your movie; and
· Keepsake, a one-stop e-commerce shop for movie-lovers to purchase their favorite movie merchandise.
“Driven by innovation, GSC constantly seeks modern solutions to strengthen operational efficiency across our 56 cinema locations with the automation of our KDM delivery through our partnership with GDC Technology Limited. Automation plays a significant role in minimizing manual tasks such as ensuring successful KDM delivery amongst cinema staff, and this in turn allows them to cast their focus on other key imminent tasks,” said Mr. Heng Beng Fatt, chief operating officer, Golden Screen Cinemas.
“By automating KDM delivery with GDC’s advanced CMS-3000, it will not only streamline operations but also ensure GSC’s content will be securely played back on all their cinema screens. Our solution makes KDM management seamless and one chore less for GSC to worry about during their daily operations. Most importantly, automated KDM delivery helps to ensure an uninterrupted guest experience,” said Pranay Kumar, CTO of GDC Technology Limited.
KDMs are unique security keys issued by service providers of motion picture content on behalf of studios/content owners to enable one version of the movie to play on a target playback device for a limited duration, which could be hours, weeks, or months. All GDC enterprise software customers using CMS-3000 will have access to this new feature. With GDC’s new innovative solution, KDM generation and delivery can now be automated right from the distributor booking systems all the way to the cinema screens using the CMS-3000. This solution provides a highly reliable delivery and audit trail by using proof of successful KDM delivery confirmations.
Since the introduction of digital cinema, KDMs have been required to play digital cinema content, but the delivery and ingest of KDMs are mundane and repetitive tasks for theatre owners. A variety of solutions have arisen for the booking, generation, and blind delivery of KDMs, often over email and physical media and without any confirmation of delivery success. The manually managed delivery of KDMs sometimes results in incorrect KDMs, security exposures, and dark screens.
The new automated KDM solution offers a significant advancement in responsiveness, accuracy and reliability, and is made possible through a direct integration between Deluxe’s worldwide booking management systems and CMS-3000.
A secure communications channel between each CMS-3000 and GDC’s cloud backend allows for real-time updates of Deluxe’s Global Trusted Device List (TDL), the industry’s most comprehensive and up-to-date database on the actual compliant equipment installed at each cinema. This ensures that KDMs delivered to GSC cinemas through this system are always accurate. Once KDMs are uploaded, CMS-3000 manages the delivery directly to each theatre’s TMS and then to the corresponding media server. At all stages, until successful KDM ingest, the delivery is fully tracked thereby allowing Deluxe to provide definitive proof of delivery to their customers.
