Lucasfilm Ltd. has spun off its
THX digital cinema division as an independent company, THX Ltd.
Lucasfilm remains an investor in the newly formed, privately held
company, along with other corporate and private investors. The
formation of THX Ltd. will allow the company the opportunity to
expand into markets outside of Lucasfilm's core areas. THX Ltd. will
reorganize its programs and services into five key areas: THX
Studio, THX Cinema, THX Home, THX Mobile and THX Games. In the
professional arena, THX will continue to expand its licensees in the
newly established THX Digital Cinema Certification Program, as it
develops new standards and criteria for the next generation of THX
Theatres. The THX Digital Cinema Program establishes performance and
quality levels for digital systems and individual digital cinema
components, including projectors and servers. "As a separate company,
THX is better positioned to grow our existing markets as well as new
areas where our expertise in quality sound and picture presentation
can be applied," said Mike Hewitt, acting general manager, THX Ltd.
"One of these exciting new areas is the Digital Cinema initiative
which now falls under the THX Cinema umbrella." Additionally, under
THX Mobile and THX Games, the company is targeting car audio systems
and computer games and game consoles as key areas for expansion.