Satellite distribution company Digital Cinema Distribution Coalition now reaches more than 30,000 theater screens in the United States in the more than 2,650 theatre sites belonging to the 179 exhibitors it has under contract.
Ymagis Group today announced the conclusion of its acquisition of OpenSky’s theatrical content delivery activities dedicated to cinema exhibition, OpenSky Cinema, in accordance with the agreement signed November 30, 2016. All related business assets have been incorporated into a new entity named Open Sky Cinema SRL (Vicenza), which oversees the Ymagis Group’s portfolio of content services activities in Italy.
Ymagis Group today announced an agreement with Vicenza-based Open Sky SRL for the acquisition Open Sky Cinema, its theatrical content delivery activities dedicated to cinema exhibition.
In one of the biggest deals in the emerging digital cinema business, the Ymagis Group has acquired Eutelsat’s 50.2 percent stake in DSAT Cinema and now, effectively, controls the company.
Digital cinema electronic distribution in the Latin American region is rapidly reaching theatres, delivering studio and independent movies as well as live alternative content. Out of the estimated 12,000 screens in the region (some 2,200 theatres), electronic distribution has been growing to reach more than 6,000 screens. Mexico is the main contributor to the number, as Cinepolis and Cinemex account for more than 5,500 of those screens.
Two years ago this month, a new organization – the Digital Cinema Distribution Coalition – launched what was then billed as “the industry’s first-ever digital theatrical delivery service.” With the launch, DCDC began servicing its founding companies by transporting feature films and other content via satellite across the United States. That DCDC was not the first to do this was beside the point. DCDC had the backing and the blessing of those founding members: Warner Bros. Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Regal Entertainment Group, Cinemark Theatres and AMC Theatres. Today, DCDC has a virtual lock on its market, but questions remain regarding its long-range potential.
International Datacasting Corporation has delivered satellite receiver equipment to CinecolorSat to support the expansion of their digital cinema distribution network across Latin America.
The Digital Cinema Distribution Coalition has signed a letter of intent to acquire the Deluxe/EchoStar satellite network, adding nearly 1,000 theater sites to its broad footprint. DCDC CEO Randy Blotky and Joe Hart, senior vice president of digital cinema North America at Deluxe Entertainment Services Group made the announcement at CinemaCon last week.
Cinecolombia has selected International Datacasting Corporation’s digital cinema distribution technology SuperFlex Pro Cinema for its movie theater chains. IDC’s Latin American digital cinema partner, Grupo ChileFilms and their affiliate, Cinecolor Colombia, managed the sale to Cinecolombia.
Last September, International Datacasting announced that DSAT Cinema had committed to buy more than 1,000 of its SuperFlex Pro Video Receivers. Since its inception last year, DSAT Cinema, the Eutelsat and dcinex joint venture has used IDC’s technology to deliver more than 300 films and 50 live broadcasts, from iconic locations that include the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre and the Royal Opera House in London. The companies described their relationship as an alliance and a partnership. Digital Cinema Report recently spoke with Walter Capitani, International Datacasting’s vice president of marketing to get an update on the progress they’ve made to date.
