Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: AMC Signs $315,000,000 Deal with Sony 4k Digital

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Topic: AMC Signs $315,000,000 Deal with Sony 4k Digital

Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 03-30-2009 06:12 AM

NY Times - 3/30/09

quote:
Sony says it has signed a $315 million deal to install its digital projectors in all AMC Entertainment theaters.

The contract will close the gap between Sony and Texas Instruments in the digital projector market. Texas Instruments has equipped 5,476 screens in North American theaters with its digital light processing projectors. The deal with AMC will increase Sony’s presence to about 5,000 screens.

Theater chains are replacing film projection equipment with digital versions because new technology provides a clearer picture. No film is used, so digital images are devoid of scratches and wobbly images. Distribution costs will also be lower, as studios no longer need to create and distribute reels of film. Rather, movies can be downloaded from a satellite or served to several projectors in one theater from a hard drive.

The Sony projectors will be installed beginning in the second quarter this year and continue through 2012.

Frank Rash, an AMC senior vice president, said AMC settled on Sony’s 4K technology because “digital cinema gives us a huge opportunity to do 3-D, live broadcasts and playback of live events.”

(Article by Eric A Taub)

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 03-30-2009 07:10 AM

And those that don't learn from history.....

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-30-2009 09:12 AM

It sounds as if there will be some cheap SDDS units for sale over the next few years....

Does this deal fall under the auspices of the DCIP arrangement, or did AMC decide that DCIP was worthless and make this deal on its own? Will they get a discount on Sony/Columbia "film" rentals now? It sounds as if they agreed to pay about $68k per screen, which may be a reasonable deal if it includes the server and installation.

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William T. Parr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 823
From: Cedar Park, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 03-30-2009 09:19 AM

Yep and if history follow suit with Sony they will stop supporting the product about the time they do the final install for AMC in 2011 0r 2012. [fu]

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 4441
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 03-30-2009 10:39 AM

Remember: sdds stood for "someday, damn soon." Louis

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Mark J. Marshall
Film God

Posts: 3188
From: New Castle, DE, USA
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 03-30-2009 10:51 AM

I thought it was "Shoulda Done Dolby Stereo".

quote:
Frank Rash, an AMC senior vice president, said AMC settled on Sony’s 4K technology because “digital cinema gives us a huge opportunity to do 3-D, live broadcasts and playback of live events.”

Does that make sense to anyone else? Can't you do those things with just about any digital projector? The quote doesn't seem to explain why AMC "settled" on SONY.

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Sam D. Chavez
Film God

Posts: 2153
From: Martinez, CA USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 03-30-2009 02:00 PM

AMC has a culture of doing everything differently. Their motto from years back was "AMC, There is a Difference!"

Periscopes, Smart, Ceiling Surrounds, Taurus Screens...

One of these days they will hit a home run.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-30-2009 02:34 PM

To answer my own question, this deal does fall under the DCIP umbrella.

It does seem odd to me that they would commit their entire chain to a single-vendor product. Unlike SDDS, every AMC screen would be put at risk of going dark if Sony decides to abandon the product or significantly raise parts prices or if a major part becomes NLA. It would have been a better long-term business decision to install a mix of equipment, which would prevent the company from being completely screwed if there are issues with the Sony product.

Apparently this is what happens when you hire your CEO from Starbucks.... [Razz]

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-30-2009 02:34 PM

quote: Mark J. Marshall
I thought it was "Shoulda Done Dolby Stereo".

Interestingly the Sony's are among the most expensive to operate day to day because they require a pair of special Ushio 2kw lamps!! List is about 1200 bucks a lamp and lamp life pretty much sucks and is not consistant.

I'm pretty sure they were saying that as they replaced alot of the SDDS units with CP-650's!!!

The new one will be Shoulda Done Christie Digital.... you watch!

Mark

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Martin McCaffery
Film God

Posts: 2481
From: Montgomery, AL
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-30-2009 05:53 PM

quote: Sam D. Chavez
Periscopes, Smart, Ceiling Surrounds, Taurus Screens...

Didn't AMC try to convert to 16mm about 20 years ago?

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Chris Slycord
Film God

Posts: 2986
From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 03-30-2009 06:26 PM

quote:
AMC Signs $315 Deal with Sony 4k Digital

Cheap deal, isn't it?

[Razz]

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Tony Bandiera Jr
Film God

Posts: 3067
From: Moreland Idaho
Registered: Apr 2004

posted 03-30-2009 07:22 PM

Nope, you all got it wrong. SDDS is System Dumps During Show. [Big Grin]

Steve summed it up: AMC is incredibly stupid and hasn't learned from history.

Sony needs to stay the [sex]

of the the cinema biz..they cause a lot more damage than good. [fu]

quote: Sam Chavez
One of these days they will hit a home run.

Sam, I hope that was sarcasm....AMC hasn't even managed a base hit yet...

AMC = American Monkey Cinema...

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 4441
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 03-30-2009 08:02 PM

Another example of too much money and not enough brain! Louis

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 03-30-2009 08:36 PM

Their ALL DIGITAL Orchard 12 or whatever it is called out her in Denver is pretty good, much better than most AMC theaters. No Torus (that I saw), surround speakers were on the wall and not the ceiling, seats were comfy and the auditorium looked very nice and was comfortable. It was like going to a non-AMC theater!! Needless to say I was very confused. The picture was pretty good coming from one of those Sony 4Ks (I assume), but of course the source was 2K like most/all digital movies. This theater also had an IMAX which I did not see, but it is not real IMAX it is the fake digital IMAX so it probably is pretty lame.

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John T. Hendrickson, Jr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 889
From: Freehold, NJ, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 03-31-2009 09:42 AM

I thought SDDS ment "sound dies during show". [Wink]

It will be interesting to see how quickly this venture goes forward. Wonder where AMC is getting the money from??

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