Sony Digital Cinema Laser Technology Development
Sony is pleased to confirm that in development is a new digital cinema projector which will use a laser light source to deliver appealing benefits in terms of picture quality, reliability and reduced running costs. Sony has always been at the forefront of developments in laser technology. In 2012, viability of high frame rate 3D projection with laser was introduced using advanced de-speckling technology for high-quality images on a silver screen. Laser technology is steadily maturing, and Sony is committed to the goal of delivering ultimate image quality to our customers at realistic cost. Sony will introduce these products to the market in the near future. In the meantime, Sony is continuing to support and evolve its best-selling family of industry-leading projectors that will keep giving cinemas – and their audiences – the best possible picture quality and an amazing 4K experience for years to come.
Sony Digital Cinema Introduces Managed Service Agreement
Sony Digital Cinema is introducing a four / five year managed service supply agreement across Europe. The agreement includes installation, training and on-going maintenance from Sony technicians as well as product investment meaning customers don’t need to worry about separate payments for the different Sony services and products. The managed service agreement will be available to all potential and existing customers subject to review. It’s also a great opportunity for those exhibitors who invested early in the digitalisation cycle to upgrade their equipment to Sony 4K in a commercially attractive way. Everyman Cinemas in the UK was the first customer in Europe to sign the new Managed Service Agreement.
Sony Digital Cinema and DSAT Cinema Announce Live 4K Workflow
Sony Digital Cinema and DSAT Cinema are pleased to announce the availability of a live 4K high frame rate (using HEVC compression) distribution workflow following recent test. The live 4K workflow is now suitable for theatrical distribution. Working with technology partners including DSAT Cinema, Eutelsat and International Datacasting, Sony Digital Cinema have now created a live 4K technical workflow that is compatible with the SRX-R320 projector – currently, the only 4K projector capable of projecting a live 4K feed. This new 4K workflow was successful testing in May 2014 where the partners created a broadcast on a 4K TV (UHD) 3840 x 2160 pixels which works out to be 50 flips per second. Following on from the successful live 4K transmission of the award-winning theatrical performance of War Horse in February 2014, there is a demand from cinema-goers to view live content no matter where they are located across the globe. Sony is excited about what new opportunities this brings for content providers.
Sony welcomes Weischer.Media’s CINEMA.RELOADED® ready TMS certification programme
Digital Cinema is proud to announce support of the CINEMA.RELOADED® ready TMS certification programme by Weischer.Media. CINEMA.RELOADED® ready is a certification programme for Theatre Management System suppliers. The initiative aims to clarify to exhibitors which TMS solutions are compatible with Weischer.Media’s sophisticated and highly-automated digital cinema advertising solution, CINEMA.RELOADED®. Sony is looking to obtain formal certification for its STM-100 Theatre Management System (TMS) imminently.
Thanks to Sony’s user-friendly STM-100, users can plan and create show playlists (SPLs) centrally for each individual auditorium, which enables cinemas to be managed simply and efficiently. This high level of convenience is now being increased once more: With this unified solution—the complete pre-programme including all advert bookings for each individual showing is digitally delivered to the respective projector from the central server at ONEDCN®, the digital system from Weischer.Media, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
CINEMA.RELOADED® makes cinema advertising even more attractive
This solution presents a win-win situation for cinema operators and advertisers, as it strives to combine the advantages of sophisticated digital systems and networks with the quality of classic screen advertising and makes the cinema an even more attractive advertising medium. CINEMA.RELOADED® can therefore enable advertising companies to reach specific cinemagoer groups in a transparent and targeted fashion. The enhanced quality of target group identification ultimately helps increase the return on investment for the cinema advertiser.
Sony Digital Cinema & Dolby Collaboration
Sony Digital Cinema is pleased to announce they are working with Dolby on a boutique cinemas project. The collaboration sees Sony Digital Cinema and Dolby offering the best audio solution with Dolby Atmos and projection solution with the Sony R515 4K projector to the market for small and mid-sized high-end cinemas. The Dolby Atmos sound system and Sony 4K projectors together are a one-stop solution for creating the best possible digital cinema experience.
David McIntosh Appointed to Head Digital Cinema Business in Europe and Americas
David McIntosh is expanding his role in the digital cinema business, assuming the title of Vice President, Sony Digital Cinema 4K Solutions for Europe and the Americas. Having a unified global presence and centralised sales and marketing management streamlines Sony’s ability to respond to exhibitor needs in key international markets more rapidly and efficiently. David will oversee the direction of Sony’s 4K digital cinema business, and its relationships with theatre chains including AMC Entertainment, Regal Entertainment Group, Muvico Entertainment, National Amusements, Vue, Apollo, Everyman and Showcase Cinemas, among many others. Currently, more than 17,000 Sony 4K systems are installed at theatres worldwide.