RealD And Cineplex Deal Brings Record 3-D Screens

Cineplex Ent. and RealD have signed a long-term agreement to install a minimum of 175 3-D systems into Cineplex Entertainment theatres across the country by December 2009, bringing RealD's committed screen count to well over 5,500.

The commencement of the RealD rollout is dependent upon Cineplex Entertainment entering into a digital deployment agreement to begin the conversion to digital projection.

RealD is the global leader in 3D, with 90 percent of the worldwide digital 3-D market and 97 percent of the domestic market. RealD is the most advanced digital 3-D experience available in cinemas. The RealD cinema experience is based upon visualization technology used by NASA and Fortune 500 companies, and utilizes a circular polarization system to create a vivid and immersive three-dimensional picture.

"2009 is truly shaping up to be the year of 3-D, in which exhibitors and film studios will join together to provide moviegoers with a bigger and better experience at the theatre than ever before," said Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation. "By this time next year we will be closer than ever to seeing digital 3-D become a mainstream reality in theatres across North America."

"The good news just keeps coming as moviegoers get even more access to 3-D screens," said Bruce Snyder, President, 20th Century Fox Domestic Distribution. "With ICE AGE 3: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS and James Cameron's AVATAR both being released in 3-D next year, we're obviously committed to the 3-D format and couldn't be more excited about RealD's continued expansion of its 3-D technology and digitalization of theatres globally."

Cineplex Ent. currently has 41 RealD 3D systems installed and will begin the rollout of the remaining systems into its theatres later this year to bring the total to 175. The majority of installations are expected to be completed in time for the slate of 3-D films being released in 2009.