Sony Professional showcases the ultimate cinema experience at Cinema Expo 2009

Basingstoke, 22nd June 2009: Sony Professional will showcase unrivalled 4K projection systems, 3D, and digital signage solutions at Cinexpo (June 22-25, Amsterdam). Visitors will see how these technologies enable theatres worldwide to deliver an end-to-end digital cinema experience.

“The industry has had to face up to consumers demanding a more inspiring, exciting cinema experience,” commented Oliver Pasch, head of Digital Cinema in Europe, Sony Professional.” The explosion of 3D, the improvements in home cinema solutions and the credit crunch hitting movie goers’ pockets as well as exhibitor’s financial range have all combined to ensure that theatre owners must deliver the ultimate movie experience in order to thrive. Sony Professional is bringing new opportunities to cinema owners, by working closely with them inside and outside the screening room. Sony’s success in helping cinemas comes from its end-to-end digital cinema suite - that promises to deliver the superior quality from the moment a customer arrives at the cinema, through to the movie showing, and beyond.”

Sony will be showcasing a number of technologies at the show:

The Big Screen

Sony’s state-of-the-art CineAlta 4K projection systems produce the highest levels of resolution contrast and overall image quality.

Testament to the quality of 4K is Sony’s recent deal with Regal Entertainment Group, the largest motion picture exhibitor in the world. Earlier this month, Regal announced that it is to install Sony 4K digital projection systems across its entire circuit of over 5,000 screens.

Approximately 1,500 of the Regal screens will also be outfitted for 3D projection. This highlights the massive current demand for 3D screenings – and demonstrated at Cinema Expo is Sony’s products that make 3D a reality. On the European front, Hollywood Multiplex in Romania has also fully committed to 3D on 4K in its flagship theatres.

Sony’s partnership with RealD, which provides cinemas with 3D digital cinema systems that combine a single Sony 4K projector and its new 3D dual lens adapter, further underpins its commitment to revolutionising digital cinema. The solution includes a specially designed optical filter tuned for the projector, resulting in the ability to deliver crisp 3D images to screens up to 15 metres in width.

With the RealD partnership, Sony’s CineAlta 4K projection system now offers the best of both worlds; stunning 4K images for 2D and clear 2K images for 3D, without triple flash artefacts, projecting two pictures simultaneously.

Beyond the screen

In addition to delivering a richer on-screen experience, Sony Professional will demonstrate the business benefits that can be achieved through the implementation of digital signage and video security systems to help deliver that ultimate cinema experience.

From explosive film trailers to the latest ticket offers, Sony Professional digital signage solutions let cinema owners entertain and inform their customers from the moment they arrive. This month, Portugal’s largest cinema owner, Lusomundo, has invested in Sony Professional Ziris software and professional screens – allowing the company to publicise the very latest promotional offers to its customers – across a network of cinemas. The cinema chain has not only saved money through requiring less printed material, but has seen an upsurge in purchase of the items advertised by Sony’s technology.

Pasch concluded, “Whilst cinema goers can point to the obvious impact that 3D, 4K and digital signage has had on their experience, our intelligent video analytics also helps theatre owners to better manage the customer journey and at the same time provide a high level of security in theatres worldwide. “ For more information please come along to stand 327 at Cinema Expo.