[Philip Lelyveld comment: …close to 2500 digital screens…has indigenously developed a very cost effective technology to convert existing 2D screens into 3D screens…sole aggregator of DCI compliant screens in India]
[AFAQs.com]
UFO Moviez, the world’s single largest networked digital cinema platform, has revolutionized the way films are distributed and exhibited throughout India. The advantage offered by UFO Moviez’ digital cinema solutions lies in the fact that theatres are able to quickly source and screen alternative content in situations that call for flexibility in content and quick turnaround time. This serves as a win-win situation for all involved in the film distribution-exhibition chain.
Presently, UFO has a base of close to 2500 digital screens, spread across more than 1300 cities in 26 states of India. Out of these 2500 screens, around 350 screens are in multiplexes (which constitutes over 30% of the multiplex population in the country) and the balance are single screen theatres. The total capacity of these screens is over 1.3 million seats. UFO has so far released more than 3500 films in 29 languages and has conducted more than 7.5 million shows. …
UFO has achieved a major technological break-through in the field of 3D. It has indigenously developed a very cost effective technology to convert existing 2D screens into 3D screens. The technology was successfully tested during IPL 2010 and the last four matches were brought live in 3D with exceptional results. With its unique business model wherein the theatre owners are not required to make any investment in the equipment, UFO expects to install 1250 3D screens on its network over the next two years, up from the present 100 3D screens. …
UFO has recently acquired a strategic stake in Scrabble Entertainment Pvt Limited (Scrabble). Scrabble is the sole aggregator of DCI compliant screens in India and already has more than 280 DCI screens. Scrabble has very recently signed contracts with Hollywood Studios for expansion of its activities in Middle East countries as well. With the strategic investment in Scrabble, UFO is now in a position to provide a complete offering i.e. both DCI as well as non DCI systems for its international forays. UFO is already present in Nepal and is actively looking at markets like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Middle East countries and Latin American and East European regions among others for both DCI and Non DCI rollout.
Read the full story here: http://www.afaqs.com/news/company_briefs/?id=51127_UFO+Digital+Theatres+gear+up+for+big+Bollywood+Tamil+Telugu+Bengali+releases
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From UFO Website
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After carefully studying market realities, UFO has created an end-to-end Digital Cinema Solution which has revolutionized the film distribution and exhibition system. |
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The Company has revolutionized the way films are distributed and exhibited through its pioneering technology, infrastructure and unique pay per show business model, bringing in a ‘First Day First Show’ regime for film distributors and cinema owners. |
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A Digital Cinema System encompasses the production, delivery and projection of full-length motion pictures, trailers, advertisements and other audio / visual programs to theatres using digital technology. In Digital Cinema a film is delivered to theatres through physical media such as hard disks or through other electronic transmission methods such as satellite. |
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UFO has launched an MPEG-4 technology based Digital Cinema System which provides greater flexibility, efficiency and cost savings over any other Digital Cinema solution. |
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MPEG-4 technology, allows reliable and speedy delivery of digitized movies through satellite. This technology further provides the great advantage of storing multiple numbers of movies in UFO server, at the theater. This storage of movies provides flexibility to schedule the number of shows with different movies, which basically creates a pseudo multiplex environment for the theater substantially increasing the revenue. |
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Thus, UFO has leveraged the inherent advantages of its system to truly deliver a flexible, efficient, versatile and cost-effective tailor-made Digital Cinema System to the film industry. |
Satellite Based Delivery : MPEG4 format-Most bandwidth efficient technology making satellite based delivery possible – Game Changer.
Highly secure : Follows 192 bit encryption – higher security than all competing formats (128 bit encryption for DCI and MPEG2 formats).
Scalable : Allows widest geographical coverage with minimal local presence and incremental opex.
Robust : No delays/ disruptions typically associated with physical delivery, no disruptions due to weather phenomena.
Flexible : Ability to remotely manage content licensing and editing – hugely advantageous in case of last hour changes warranted by Govt actions/ special situations
Remote management : Only digital cinema format on closed group network – enabled for remote maintenance and real time monitoring – reduced downtime, superior support for exhibitors.
Real time : Ability to manage content from remote locations ideal for in cinema advertising .
Live capability : Only platform enabled for live events – showcased Live IPL in 2D and 3D .
Multilingual capabilities : Ability to download multilingual films in an efficient manner. Single visual patch download for multiple audio patches and stitched together at the theatre .
Innovation in pricing strategy : UFO has pioneered a Pay per show based pricing strategy for distributors as against common practice of deploying a Virtual Print Fee (VPF) charge .
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UFO has recently achieved a major technological break-through in the field of 3D. It has indigenously developed a very cost effective technology to convert existing 2D screens into 3D screens. The last four matches of recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) were brought LIVE in theatres in 3D with spectacular results. This was perhaps for the first time in the world that a sporting event of such magnitude was brought to the theatres LIVE in 3D.
The stupendous success of 3D movie “Avatar” has generated a lot of interest in 3D. During the recently concluded IPL season, UFO also realised that with only around 70 3D screens in India, that too in few metro cities, it is next to impossible to exploit full commercial potential of any 3D content. UFO believes that it will be a game changer for the film exhibition fraternity in India if more and more screens can be made 3D compliant and has plan to commercialise this technology to the theatres in India. UFO plans to roll out 1250 screens by 31st March 2013.