In the wake of two-year trials at ODEON Hatfield, NEC Display Solutions’ NC1600C digital integrated cinema projectors will be rolled out to 75 cinemas, ahead of a number of new releases – including Monsters Vs Aliens and Disney’s Bolt – that are set to confirm the resurgence of 3D movie-making.
The deal follows shortly after the announcement that NEC NC1600 and NC2500 digital projectors are to be used by Cineworld for 3D screenings at sites across the UK.
Simon Jackson, vice president Northern Europe for NEC Display Solutions, told II: “NEC is leading the way in European digital cinema roll-outs. ODEON is the largest cinema chain in Europe and our recent success covers countries such as Spain, Portugal and Germany as well as the UK. If we add to this the recently signed Cineworld contract we can see a real desire to move to digital projection, stimulated by the Hollywood studios producing fantastic 3D films that are keeping the cinemas full even in the current economic climate.”
Providing an ODEON perspective, the cinema chain’s executive vice president of digital development, Drew Kaza (pictured), commented: “We wanted the best for our 3D digital projection, and so over the past two years we have vigorously put NEC’s technology through its paces. It definitely hit the mark with superb image quality and unsurpassed reliability. NEC has equipped ODEON with a ground-breaking digital cinema projection system and we anticipate a resultant jump in per seat revenues.”
