Dutch Independent Cinemas to Go Digital with Arts Alliance Media

Arts Alliance Media (AAM), Europe’s leading digital cinema provider today announced that it has reached an exclusive agreement with the Amsterdam Booking Company B.V. (ABC), a buying group representing Dutch independent cinemas, to supply and integrate digital cinema in 68 screens within 20 cinemas across The Netherlands. The deal also covers the installation of a professional satellite network for the transmission of live events and encrypted content.

Under the conditions of the agreement, AAM will create a fully integrated DCI-compliant digital cinema and satellite network within the ABC group of cinemas. The agreement requires AAM to procure, service and maintain all digital cinema systems deployed, including projectors and servers, central storage servers and a Theatre Management System. ABC and AAM have jointly selected Christie projectors and Doremi servers for the deployment. FTT Filmtronics will carry out the installations and provide maintenance and local support. The satellite equipment will be provided by Arqiva Satellite and Media.

Paul Visser, ABC’s owner said, “We see clearly what the future of cinema is going to be - digital, 3-D and live events. AAM is the best partner to make that happen and enable us to be the first widespread movers in the Netherlands.”

Amsterdam Booking Company programs cinemas throughout the Netherlands and has a market share of 10% in the Dutch market. ABC also advises the connected cinemas on marketing, management and future development. The cinemas share information with each other which leads to synergy. ABC has extensive knowledge of the distribution side of the business, which enables the company to achieve the goals of both exhibition and distribution.

To date, AAM has a European footprint of 420 installed and operated digital cinema screens in the UK, France, Spain and Norway. The company is currently completing the 400-screen rollout in France’s Circuit George Raymond (CGR Cinémas). AAM was the first digital cinema provider in Europe to sign VPF-based deployment agreements with studios and exhibitors.

Source: DCinemaToday