Ireland’s DCL Rumoured to Have Closed 3 VPF Deals

Irish third-party digital cinema integrator Digital Cinema Limited (DCL) is said to have closed VPF deals with at least three Hollywood studios according to well placed sources. Rumour has it that DCL will be announcing that they have VPF agreements, which could be announced as early as next week.

It seems DCL already have 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney and Warner Bros, of which the first two have been broadly supportive of VPF deals in Europe, while WB had previously signed a deal with XDC. DCL is said to have told the studios that they want the deal done before Cine Expo. Paramount is said to also be in the mix, though it is not known if its complete just yet. Sony Pictures appears to be the hold out and speculation is that it is because there is holdout for installtion of SXRD 4K projectors from Sony Electronics.

DCL needs VPF agreements with four distributors to release their financing, according to people in the know. Ireland has roughly 500 screens and DCL has been trying to convert the country for many years now, with limited success to date. The VPFs would be for the entire country, including Northern Ireland.

As we have written before, getting a VPF deal is no big deal these days. The proof will be in rolling out and operating such a network profitably. Next up will be an announcement from Norway, also timed to coincide with Cinema Expo.

By Patrick von Sychowski, Celluloid Junkie