Following several large-scale digital cinema rollouts with major exhibition chains throughout Europe as well as leading independents such as the UK’s City Screen Arts Alliance Media has announced it has signed another leading UK independent exhibitor to its digital rollout. G1 Group owner of two multiplex cinemas in Scotland has agreed a Virtual Print Fee deal with the digital cinema company covering conversion of all screens across the two complexes. Glasgow’s Grosvenor Cinema and the Playhouse in Perth will both be equipped with digital projection systems and Arts Alliance Media’s Theatre Management System. The deal is under the exhibitor-financed VPF model in which the exhibitor pays up front for the cost of the equipment and a third party (AAM) collects VPFs from distributors whenever a film plays on the digital screen. These fees are then used to recoup the initial cost of the equipment. Ken Creelman cinema development manager at G1 Group says “This deal with AAM has been carefully crafted to work with the release patterns of independent cinemas such as ours and we think it really demonstrates that smaller exhibitors can also take advantage of VPFs and that the digital future is equally accessible to independents.” Giovanni Dolci Arts Alliance Media’s director of sales and business development says “We’ve always wanted to ensure that we make the opportunities of digital available to cinemas of all sizes so we’re delighted to announce this deal with G1. Independents such as the Grosvenor and Playhouse are often real focal points in their communities and have a loyal following so it’s great news that their customers are going to be able to enjoy pristine quality films and even more exciting content.” G1 Group is the number one independent leisure operator in Scotland and owns venues such as bars restaurants clubs and hotels right across Scotland in addition to their cinema properties. Arts Alliance Media has signed over 3 000 screens to date to their digital rollout and is currently working with independent exhibitors across Europe to convert more sites to digital.
