DALLAS and HONG KONG, Dec. 7,
2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Following exceptional growth in
installations over the past two years, Texas Instruments (TI)
(NYSE: TXN) DLP Cinema®, the worldwide leader in digital cinema
imaging technology, proudly announced today that more than 50,000
movie theatre screens across the globe are illuminated by
projectors from its OEM licensees, Barco, Christie and NEC,
utilizing DLP Cinema technology. With this staggering update, the
transition to digital cinema has crossed a threshold with over 50
percent of the estimated worldwide commercial cinema screens having
been converted to digital cinema, and the industry now estimates to
reach near completion by the end of 2015*. Whether looking to have
the brightest, high frame rate 3D viewing available or the
brightest color accuracy, exhibitors in every region rely on DLP
Cinema's broad product offerings to help deliver the best
moviegoing experiences possible on screens from small to 105 feet
wide.
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"Together with our licensees, DLP Cinema has always focused on
the goal of providing audiences with the broadest digital
projection technology options possible to match, and even exceed,
the rich color, clarity and detail of 35mm and 70mm film answer
prints," said Dave Duncan, manager
of DLP Cinema for Texas Instruments. "When the first DLP
Cinema-powered projectors were installed in 1999, we knew we had
embarked on something that would eventually bring positive change
and opportunities not available in the film-based era. Today, we
are thrilled to continue to be the driving force in making what was
once considered a far off and unlikely future a clear, accessible
reality, and are fully committed to helping exhibitors of all sizes
around the world."
To celebrate this momentous achievement, DLP Cinema provided
each of its licensees, Barco, Christie and NEC, with a
commemorative DLP Cinema chip representing the 50,000th 3-chipset
manufactured, which will be installed at three cinemas. Barco has
selected the Cinemark El Tesoro in Medellin, Colombia, Christie has chosen the
Shanghai Film Group Corporation (SFG) in China and NEC has picked the Majestic Cinema
in Milwaukee, WI USA as the
worldwide representatives of this 50,000th milestone.
"We are very honoured to receive this award from Texas
Instruments for being the 50,000th location. United Circuit Cinemas
and Shanghai Film Group would like to thank Texas Instruments and
Christie Digital Systems for staying ahead of technological
innovation for exhibitors," said Xu
Xiaoping, general manager, United Circuit Cinemas, Shanghai
Film Group.
"After an exhaustive review of all digital cinema providers by
Jane Durment, The Marcus
Corporation's Chief Information Officer, and Mark Collins, our Director of Projection
Technology, DLP Cinema was selected as Marcus Theatres' digital
cinema solution," stated Bruce
Olson, president of Marcus Theatres. "Marcus Theatres is
proud that the Majestic Cinema in suburban Milwaukee, WI was selected as one of the sites
for one of DLP Cinema's 50,000th chipsets."
In the 12-month period between December
1, 2010 and November 30, 2011,
the number of DLP Cinema screens worldwide grew to a total of
51,620 (up from 28,036) – nearly double the amount of such screens
at this point in 2010 – for an increase of 84 percent. DLP Cinema
3D screens have risen 65 percent to 30,290 in total (from 18,367)
during the same 12 month timeframe. The total DLP Cinema worldwide
screens do not include IMAX® digital powered by DLP Cinema, which
separately grew to 410 sites globally (256 in North America, and 154 internationally).
The switch to digital projection has reached an especially
fevered pitch in China, with 7,745
DLP Cinema screens – an amount that is nearly 60 percent of all
digital screens in the Asia
Pacific region, which includes India, Australia and New
Zealand – and 4,409 of the screens are 3D-enabled. This
latest research estimates that China will have a nationwide footprint of
all-digital commercial cinemas by the end of 2013.* In the
Asia Pacific region as a whole,
between December 1, 2010 and
November 30, 2011, there was 92
percent growth in DLP Cinema screens to 13,365 (up from 6,972), and
a 82 percent jump for 3D screens (from 4,583).
Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) experienced similar growth to
Asia Pacific during this same 12
month period, with a 91 percent increase for DLP Cinema screens
(17,670 total), and 56 percent increase with 3D (10,848 total). In
Latin America, DLP Cinema screens
grew to 2,424 (an 83 percent increase), and 2,343 (83 percent
change) with 3D capabilities. This continued global success further
affirms DLP Cinema's longstanding leadership position in the
digital cinema space and represents a positive outlook for the
months and years ahead.
To experience DLP Cinema's award-winning, DCI-compliant
technology offerings firsthand, please visit our partners Barco,
Christie and NEC at CineAsia. Additionally, to learn more about DLP
Cinema overall, please visit www.DLPCinema.com.
*According to IHS Screen Digest report "Goodbye and thanks
for the memories...the end of 35mm" from October 2011.
About DLP Cinema
DLP Cinema is a proprietary technology that delivers clear,
sharp, bright and accurate images to movie theatres globally. To
manufacture and market under the DLP Cinema trademark, technology
licensees, including Barco, Christie and NEC, must meet stringent
standards and guidelines meant to ensure the best possible
performance and picture quality. This digital picture and standard
of excellence ensures that a DLP Cinema movie screening looks
flawless and each showing is as perfect as the first with no
annoying scratches, tears or weaving that detract from the movie
going experience. For more information, please visit
www.DLPCinema.com/Cinema/DLP-Cinema-Advantages/.
About Texas Instruments DLP Products
Since 1996, Texas Instruments' award-winning DLP display
technology has powered the world's top projectors and displays,
delivering pictures rich with color, contrast, clarity and
brightness to screens of all sizes. DLP's technology spans movie
theaters (DLP Cinema®) and large-scale, professional venues; in
conference rooms, classrooms, and home theaters; and with DLP
Pico™-enabled mobile devices, the ability to project images from
the palm of your hand. Every DLP chip features an array of up to
2.2 million microscopic mirrors that switch at ultra high speeds –
an innovative advantage that remains cutting edge and ideal for
current and future applications alike. The results are
high-resolution, highly reliable, razor-sharp images, that even
work with fast motion video. To learn more about DLP technology,
please visit www.DLP.com, or follow DLP on Twitter at
www.Twitter.com/TI_DLP.
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) helps customers solve problems and
develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier,
safer, greener and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI
innovates through design, sales and manufacturing operations in
more than 30 countries. For more information, go to www.TI.com.
DLP and DLP Cinema are registered trademarks of Texas
Instruments.
SOURCE Texas Instruments DLP