Singapore Government authorities choose Barco to develop its Digital Cinema network
Leading Singapore exhibitor ENG WAH to install 20 Barco Digital Cinema projectors
Kortrijk, Belgium, November 25, 2003. In a collaboration intended to support Singapore’s ambition to become the digital hub of the ASIA region the government’s IDA (Infocomm Development Authority) and MDA (Media Development Authority) have jointly selected the Barco D-Cine Premiere DP100 2k projector for the introduction of Digital Cinema into the country. Recognizing the significance of the transformation of today’s celluloid film based distribution and the considerable opportunities it offers the Singapore economy, jobs in post production and in the wider media industry generally, the IDA and MDA have supported the purchase of 20 projectors by the leading Singapore exhibitor Eng Wah.
Speaking at the launch of the Eng Wah organization’s digital deployment IDA Chief Executive Officer, Ms Tan Ching Yee said “the application of Infocomm technology in entertainment promises significant cost savings and a superior movie going experience”
Noting that important global changes are under way Mr. Lim Hock Chuan, the Chief executive of the MDA added: “We believe that digital cinema will take off in a big way as more filmmakers and cinema operators adopt the technology. This in turn will make the transmission and screening of movies, advertising, trailers and other digital content such as concerts and sports events in cinemas possible.”
Further commenting on the launch Ms Goh Min Yen, Managing Director, Eng Wah Organization Ltd said, “As the only publicly listed movie exhibitor and distributor, Eng Wah has always been keen to venture into higher value-added areas to enhance shareholder value. The impact of the savings from Digital Cinema to our cinema operations on top of the enhanced cinema experience will be significant.”
The Eng Wah network, comprising of 20 Barco D-Cine Premiere DP100 digital projectors plus anamorphic lens for a State-of the Art wide large screen cinemascope display, will commence its roll out on November 27th with a Gala screening of the new Disney blockbuster ‘Brother Bear’ at the Eng Wah theater, Singapore, Suntec City.
Commenting on the decision to equip entirely with the latest generation 2k resolution projectors, Sjoerd De Clerck, managing Director of Barco Digital Cinema said: “We applaud the forward thinking of the IDA and MDA in strongly supporting this digital cinema initiative. This decision further enhances the leading technology role Singapore already enjoys in the region. We are proud to be associated with this program as well as with the Eng Wah Organization who once again show a tremendous enthusiasm to invest in technology for the benefit of the movie patron.”
About Eng Wah
Founded in the 1940s in Post war Singapore, the Eng Wah Group is the first cinema operator to be publicly listed on the Stock Exchange of Singapore (SGX)
The group is a leading film exhibitor and distributor with 29 strategically located cinema screen halls with a capacity of over 6,700 seats. The group’s leisure and lifestyle investments and services include the management of modern entertainment complexes that offer modern multiplex screen halls, amusement arcades, restaurants and lifestyle retail stores. The group earned an annual sales turnover of S$20.9 million in FY 2003 and employs 140 staff.
About Barco
Barco, an international company headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, is active in three key areas of imaging technology. Barco designs and develops solutions for large screen visualization, display solutions for life-critical applications, and systems for visual inspection. Barco has a network of subsidiaries, distributors and agents in almost 100 countries. Barco is quoted on Brussels/Euronext and is a BEL 20 and a Next 150 company.
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