Barco and its integration partner RCC Trading are currently working hard to convert all Nu Metro theaters fully digital by December. The South African exhibitor, the second largest in the country, has ordered no fewer than 111 new Barco digital cinema projectors, to be installed across 16 sites. On top of that, selected Nu Metro theaters in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban will be equipped with Barco’s Auro immersive sound system – a first for Africa.
Nu Metro Cinemas converted its very first fully digital cineplex in Johannesburg in 2009. Since then, the cinema chain had gradually gone digital. With the need for a full digital transition, came the decision to restrict the number of cinema projector suppliers. Barco was selected, for the quality and low total cost of ownership of its projectors, as well as its local presence in South Africa, which Nu Metro considered a guarantee for excellent support services.
“We have been using Barco projectors for many years, at several Nu Metro sites, and their quality and reliability is beyond compare. Many of our colleagues in the cinema business agree with that, which further heightens our confidence in Barco,” said Luke Roberts, Nu Metro’s general manager. “On top of that, our many meetings with the Barco team confirmed that Barco would be the right choice. The people there really know their projectors inside out.”
Nu Metro’s trust in Barco also spurred the exhibitor to invest in Barco’s Auro immersive sound system, as a way of further enhancing the entertainment experience. Roberts and his team had tested Auro and competitive products and believe that Auro offers far better sound quality, as well as a clear path to an open standard for immersive sound. The installation of Auro perfectly fits Nu Metro’s list of firsts in Africa. Nu Metro was the first cinema chain with an all-digital Cineplex, and now leads the way once again with the Auro immersive sound system.
“Nu Metro Cinemas is a progressive circuit with a true focus on delivering a premium entertainment experience. We’re proud to be chosen by this trendsetting chain to help them achieve that aim. The partnership also enables us to bring our Auro 11.1 immersive sound experience to South African moviegoers for the first time. This really is the next step in bringing the exciting new opportunities of the digital Cinema of the Future to the African continent,” said Wim Buyens, senior vice president of Barco’s Entertainment Division.