IDC OpenSky Announce Deal for Digital Cinema Satellite Delivery in Europe

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Fri, 11/07/2008 - 19:00 -- Nick Dager

International Datacasting Corporation has announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with OpenSky based in Italy for the provision of IDC's broadband satellite technology for the rollout of a new digital cinema distribution network in Europe. The MOU has been consummated with an initial order of uplink broadcast equipment and an initial deployment of IDC's satellite receivers to multiple theatres across Italy. Financial details of the MOU were not disclosed for competitive reasons. OpenSky is a European satellite service provider with headquarters in Italy. OpenSky is a strategic partner in Italy of the Eutelsat group and provides a range of satellite delivery services in Europe from its base of operations in Italy. As part of this MOU OpenSky is launching a new satellite distribution network specifically for live events and content delivery to theatres across Europe equipped with digital cinema projection systems. Opensky is also utilizing the IDC solution in a European Space Agency project named ISIDE focused on electronic and digital cinema distribution. Under the terms of the MOU IDC through its wholly-owned subsidiary PROFLine B.V. in the Netherlands will provide a complete end-to-end solution capable of satellite distribution of both file based digitally rendered movies based on the Hollywood JPEG200 standard as well as alternative live events content. We selected IDC through a competitive evaluation process and we are pleased to have them as our technology partner going forward says Walter Munarini technology director for OpenSky in Italy. They have future-proof off-the-shelf products backed by years of real life digital cinema experience. We have developed and optimized a specific solution for content distribution exploiting their SuperFlex technology. Now we can deliver full-length encrypted movie files in a few hours compared to days for other approaches. The same system has the added benefit of being able to deliver live events in high definition - both in 2D and now in 3D with Sensio 3D technology. We also selected IDC because they are financially stable and have a long-term commitment to ongoing new product development. We are pleased and proud to be chosen by OpenSky to be their technology provider and to be providing the latest network solution for this exciting new digital cinema project says Ron Clifton IDC president and CEO. OpenSky is an industry leader and has a reputation for excellence and quality of service.