Andre Yoskowitz
9 Mar 2013 8:50
Digital Cinema Distribution Coalition (DCDC) has announced agreements with Lionsgate, Universal, Disney, Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures with each receiving "theatrical digital-delivery services" in North America.
DCDC itself is a coalition of AMC Theatres, Regal Entertainment Group, Cinemark Theatres, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. The group "has created a satellite and terrestrial digital-distribution network capable of delivering feature, promotional, preshow and live digital-cinema content to theaters," says THR.
The group's ultimate goal is to move North America completely to digital cinema, reducing distribution costs significantly for the theaters and studios. Today, studios still often ship film prints or even hard drives.
"Our goal is to drive the cost of distribution as low as we can get it," DCDC spokesman Randolph Blotky says. "We'd like to drive it to zero over the course of time."
DCDC service is expected to begin mid-summer with theater appliances that are "one-port access to thousands of screens, for both movies and alternative content, from all content providers."