To stop the drop of theatre attendance, get ready for a new film experience by 2009.

by Mike Kravinsky

Digital Cinema Implementation Partners (DCIP) announced that it has entered into long term agreements with Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney Motion Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios and Lionsgate Films for the deployment of digital projection systems to nearly 20,000 movie theatre screens across North America. This agreement comes after previous agreements with Warner Bros. and Universal. 

Theatre attendance has been dropping largely due to home theatre systems. To bring those consumers back, Regal Cinemas, AMC and Cinemark established the DCIP, to help them fund the roughly $70,000 to $100,00 cost per theatre for the digital cinema conversion. 

Instead of getting a 35mm print of each film, usually costing up to 5 million dollars for a film in large release, digital release is practically cost free. Films can be delivered to the theatre by internet or satellite. The film industry believes this will also help in curbing piracy.  

Along with the cost savings in delivery, which helps the cost to the studio,  Digital Cinema provides a better viewing experience. T heatre owners hope that with better sound and much sharper pictures the audience will come back. 

Another benefit, theaters will be able to install 3D systems. There are several 3D films that will be released in 2009.