GDC and Barco announce digital cinema deployment contracts with two major Chinese exhibitors
ShoWest, Las Vegas (April 1, 2009) – GDC Technology (“GDC”), a world leading digital cinema solution provider and Barco, a global market leader in professional visualization, are pleased to announce digital cinema deployment contracts with Hengdian Entertainment Co., Ltd (“Hengdian”) and Jinyi Zhujiang Movie Circuit Co., Ltd (“Jinyi”). Hengdian is China's thirteenth largest exhibitor, while Jinyi is the nation's sixth largest exhibitor (according to 2007 published box office collection). In total GDC and Barco will equip 120 theaters with digital projection. Jinyi already began deploying Barco technology in the course of February 2009, with all systems to be installed in the next 18 months, whereas deployment for for Hengdian is slated to start in April 2009. The DCI-2000 Digital Cinema Integrated Projection System, which consists of GDC's SA-2100 Digital Cinema Server and Barco's DLP Cinema® Projector, will be adopted for both installations. Together GDC and Barco have already deployed more than 700 digital cinema projection systems.
With a registered capital of 300 million RMB, Hengdian is a leading Chinese company in the film and television industry with a multitude of business interests including cinema chain operations, filming and marketing of TV drama series, and financing of TV and movie related investment projects. “With the largest number of installations which is way ahead of its nearest competitor, GDC and Barco are the undisputed leading digital cinema solution providers in China,” said Mr. Xu Tianfu, General Manager of Hengdian. “We have great faith in GDC and Barco's vast experience and proven track record, and it is the clear choice for our deployment program.”
With more than 700 Barco digital cinema projectors installed, Barco is leading the market in China. To serve its customers the best possible way, Barco has recently established a 24-hour service network to ensure its customers' equipments are always in good running order. The high market share stands as a solid affirmation of Barco's hold on customer satisfaction and confidence in the China market. “This project is a continuation of our close partnership with GDC in the deployment of digital cinema systems in China,” said Frank Christiaens, Managing Director, Barco China. ”We value this partnership and are confident to see more successes coming our way as digital cinema takes off in China.”
“Hengdian Group is no ordinary company in China and how it has developed the world's largest entertainment conglomerate from scratch over 10 years is itself a legend,” said Dr Man-Nang Chong, founder and CEO of GDC Technology. “We are excited to work with a company with such an illustrious background, and see great potential working with a company which is now in the early days of its exhibition business.”
Jinyi was founded as a joint venture between Jiayu Group and Guangzhou Cinema Chain, specializing in the business of premier cinemas in China. It has close to 200 screens throughout China and is one of the leading cinema exhibitors in the country. “Jinyi has been using GDC and Barco products since 2007 and we are thoroughly satisfied with GDC's digital cinema solution and round the clock service which is the largest and most comprehensive in China,” said Mr. Xu Binbiao, GM of Jinyi. “Given GDC's commitment in China, it is natural that GDC and Barco were eventually picked by us as the strategic partner of our digital cinema roll out program.”
Barco has been supplying state-of-the-art products to China and has worked closely with GDC in numerous digital cinema projects in the country. Barco's reliable products, comprehensive service and support take the worry out of its customers as they know their capital investment is well spent and protected. “We are heartened to win yet another major deployment contract with GDC in China,” said Frank Christiaens, Managing Director, Barco China. ”This contract will further consolidate Barco's number one position in the country, and we are optimistic that our healthy partnership with GDC will bear even more fruits in future.”
“GDC has been providing a one-stop digital cinema solution with Barco to its customers in China for as long as the digital cinema has started in China,” said Dr Man-Nang Chong, founder and CEO of GDC Technology. “Our quality products and 365x24x7 customer service have won the hearts of many of our customers, and we welcome Jinyi to join in this growing family of GDC supporters in China.”
About Barco
Barco, a global technology company, designs and develops visualization products for a variety of selected professional markets. Barco has its own facilities for Sales & Marketing, Customer Support, R&D and Manufacturing in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.
Barco (NYSE Euronext Brussels: BAR) is active in more than 90 countries with about 3500 employees worldwide. Barco posted sales of 725 million euro in 2008.
About GDC Technology (http://www.gdc-tech.com)
GDC Technology (“GDC”) is a subsidiary of the Hong Kong publicly listed company - Global Digital Creations Holdings Limited. GDC is one of the leading solution providers for digital cinema, media delivery and display markets. GDC has successfully delivered and installed over 1000 operating digital cinema servers worldwide, including Austria, Africa, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the Netherlands, the Philippines, the US and UK. More than 500 feature titles have been released digitally on GDC's Digital Cinema Servers.
About Hengdian Entertainment Co., Ltd
Hengdian Entertainment Co., Ltd (“Hengdian”) is a subsidiary of Hengdian Group, a Zhejiang-based Chinese conglomerate with diverse business interests. With a registered capital of 300 million RMB, Hengdian is by itself a leading Chinese company in the film and television industry with a multitude of business interests including cinema chain operations, filming and marketing of TV drama series, and financing of TV and movie related investment projects.
About Jinyi Zhujiang Movie Circuit Co., Ltd
Jinyi Zhujiang Movie Circuit Co., Ltd (“Jinyi”), based in Guangzhou, China, was founded as a joint venture between Jiayu Group and Guangzhou Cinema Chain, specializing in the business of premier cinemas in China. It has close to 200 screens over 10 cities in China and is one of the leading cinema exhibitors in the country.
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