Odeon-UCI, one of Europe’s leading cinema chains, announced today it is planning on digitizing 111 of its 200 cinemas in Europe.
From The Telegraph:
Odeon claims the changes will leave 70% of its European consumer base within half an hour’s drive of a digital screen at one of its cinemas.
“This is a steppingstone to getting all of the estate fully digital,” said Rupert Gavin, chief executive of Odeon and UCI. “In the UK, the full digital roll-out will commence in 2009 and take a couple of years to complete.”
Mr Gavin said about 15 high profile 3D films were set to be released next year from directors including Steven Spielberg and James Cameron.
“The performance of a 3D screen is two to three times better than that of a normal screen,” Mr Gavin said.
Last year James Cameron was working on a film that a large percentage of people wouldn’t be able to see in it’s 3D form due to the lack of digital screens. Now he can rest easier tonight knowing that people in the UK and Europe can see Avatar as he intended.
