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CHRISTIE KEY PROJECTION PARTNER IN WORLD'S LARGEST DIGITAL CINEMA ROLL-OUT

Arts Alliance Selects a Series of Christie CP2000 Digital Cinema Projectors in Groundbreaking United Kingdom Initiative

Christie, a leading provider of visual solutions for business, entertainment and industry, announced that the company's CP2000 series 2K resolution Digital Cinema projector has been chosen by Arts Alliance Digital Cinema (AADC), the pioneer provider of Digital Cinema services, to be an integral part of the AADC's winning bid to realize the World's largest digital screen network for the UK Film Council.

Digital Screen Network
The digital screen network, a core part of the UK Film Council's strategy for improving access to specialized and independently produced UK and international films, will provide up to 250 screens throughout the UK. This dramatic increase in the number of digitally equipped commercial venues will make the digital cinema experience more accessible to general audiences throughout the United Kingdom. Outfitted cinemas will also guarantee to screen a minimum number of art-house and foreign language films in return for the digital cinema technology, such as Christie's CP2000 digital cinema projector, providing an unmatched opportunity for both UK movie makers and for audiences to see "home-grown" talent.

Significant Investment in Digital Cinema reduces cost for the Arts The Arts Alliance Digital Cinema contract (AADC), with an estimated worth in excess of US$22M, will utilize AADC's turnkey system of which Christie's CP2000's are a key component. The system covers installation, training, servicing and warranties and if and when required the AADC will create digital cinema masters from high definition or uncompressed 2K version of the film, load onto disk, deliver to cinemas and supply the security keys for the cinema to play out the content for an agreed price. This markedly reduces the cost of showing films, which many exhibitors cite as the primary obstacle in showcasing independently produced work. In return for meeting these guidelines, exhibitors who install these systems can use them to also screen first-run studio films and other traditional content of their choice.


"This arrangement provides a practical and innovative model for deploying Digital Cinema installations on a large scale," remarked Fiona Deans, associate director, Arts Alliance Digital Cinema. "We're proud to be working with the UK Film Council to offer movie-goers the largest variety of films in the widest range of locations."

Deans added, "We selected Christie as our prime Digital Cinema projector supplier because the Christie CP2000 series delivers exceptionally bright, quality images. Plus, they offer the flexibility to run alongside traditional 35mm film projectors and can be adapted to almost any cinema environment."

"Exhibitors recognize the critical need to invest in digital solutions to help maximize revenue streams and remain competitive, but must also consider their current investment in traditional technology," noted Dale Miller, vice-president, Christie EMEA "With experience that spans over 75 years in providing both mechanical and digital cinema systems, including the first deployment of 2K resolution digital cinema; Christie can provide a comprehensive level of knowledge and support for theatre projection. So understandably we are very proud to be part of this historic step toward realizing the exceptional possibilities of Digital Cinema through a highly inspired arrangement that benefits content providers, exhibitors and the movie-going public."

About the UK Film Council
The UK Film Council's Distribution and Exhibition Department is investing over $34.5 million in a range of projects to widen the opportunity for people to see a broader range of films across the UK. Initiatives include: up to $22 million (US) for the first ever digital screen network across the UK; $2.9 million to date towards the release of specialized films (such as Goodbye Lenin!, The Motorcycle Diaries, The Station Agent and The House of Flying Daggers) through supporting prints and advertising costs; funding for the installation of subtitling and audio-description equipment at more than 78 cinemas across the UK; funding towards equipping film clubs and local film societies, community groups and mobile film exhibitors with high quality DVD-based digital projection equipment.

About Arts Alliance Digital Cinema (AADC)
AADC is a division of Arts Alliance Limited, a subsidiary of Arts Alliance Media, which focuses on the development and deployment of new technologies in order to improve service to film consumers and the industry. AADC launched its trial digital cinema circuit in July 2003 at the Cambridge Film Festival. It has made over 30 digital cinema installations in the UK, Switzerland, France and Norway and has shown more than 20 feature films digitally. More information about Arts Alliance Media can be found at www.artsalliancemedia.com.

About Christie
Christie is a leader in visual solutions for world-class organizations, offering diverse applications for business, entertainment, and industry. A leading innovator in film projection since 1929 and a pioneer in projection systems since 1979, Christie has established a global reputation as a total service provider and the world's single source manufacturer of a variety of display technologies and solutions. Christie offers comprehensive solutions for cinema, large audience venues, control rooms, business presentations, training facilities, 3D and Virtual Reality, simulation and education as well as industrial and government environments. Christie solutions are used in over 75,000 locations worldwide, including more than 10,000 projectors and displays networked with ChristieNET(tm) networking devices. For more information, visit www.christiedigital.com.