In a landmark, long term agreement that signals future development and expansion for the digital cinema industry, International Datacasting has announced that DSAT Cinema has committed to ordering more than 1,000 of IDC’s SuperFlex Pro Video Receivers. These receivers will be installed throughout Europe over the coming years. The multi-year deal with DSAT Cinema reinforces what the company says is IDC’s position as the clear frontrunner for digital cinema satellite technology in Europe and worldwide.
DSAT Cinema is the Eutelsat and dcinex joint venture company specializing in satellite delivery of films and live events. Since its inception last year, DSAT Cinema has used IDC’s end-to-end technology solutions to deliver more than 300 films and 50 live broadcasts, from iconic locations that include New York's Metropolitan Opera, Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre and the Royal Opera House in London. From a breathtaking concert of Robbie Williams broadcast live from Estonia, or the latest Hollywood blockbuster film downloaded in a few hours half a world away in over 1,000 cities in Europe, IDC and DSAT Cinema are delivering enhanced access to global entertainment by employing cutting edge satellite distribution technology for digital cinema content.
“We believe a mutually strong partnership with IDC plays a critical role in the success of our expansion plans to bring smart, cost-effective solutions to cinemas via satellite, virtually anywhere in Europe,” said Fabrice Testa, CEO of DSAT Cinema.
IDC’s SuperFlex Pro Video XTR Receiver is an integrated, one-box solution, unrivaled by competitors who still require multiple pieces of equipment to provide the same level of service. The IDC receiver fully integrates with DSAT Cinema’s existing IDC headend equipment located in France and Italy. This compact receiver is the only product to include a video decoder, file receiver and storage in one device. All IDC receivers are controlled from the DSAT Cinema network operations center to ensure fast and secure delivery of the content. The digital content distribution technology is further streamlined with IDC handling all of the hardware and software needs. By allowing Digital Cinema Packag file delivery, plus normal live events in 2D or 3D on two different satellite carriers at the same time, IDC’s receiver can decrease capital expenditures significantly.
As a pioneer in satellite-based DCP and 3D live event delivery with more than a decade of experience, IDC is a trusted supplier to the world’s leading digital cinema content distributors. At present, more than 4,000 IDC Digital Cinema receivers are deployed on six continents. Seventy percent of satellite-connected digital cinemas worldwide rely on IDC’s technology.
Creating an innovative and collaborative partnership encourages IDC to stay at the competitive edge of advanced digital cinema technology for the long term. At the same time, DSAT Cinema can expand on a high quality network using IDC solutions they already know and trust. Together these two leaders in the digital cinema satellite industry can stay focused on bringing leading end-to-end solutions anywhere in Europe, while incurring minimal risk.
“Our long term relationship with DSAT Cinema is the kind of partnership we like to have with our customers,” said Doug Lowther, CEO of IDC. “This alliance also supports our plans to continue developing and enhancing IDC’s advanced digital cinema content distribution technology.”
International Datacasting Corporation www.datacast.com
DSAT Cinema www.dsatcinema.com