UK pioneers digital film network

[edesignuk]

The world's first digital cinema network will be established in the UK over the next 18 months.

The UK Film Council has awarded a contract worth £11.5m to Arts Alliance Digital Cinema (AADC), who will set up the network of up to 250 screens.

AADC will oversee the selection of cinemas across the UK which will use the digital equipment.

High definition projectors and computer servers will be installed to show mainly British and specialist films.

Most cinemas currently have mechanical projectors but the new network will see up to 250 screens in up to 150 cinemas fitted with digital projectors capable of displaying high definition images.

The new network will double the world's total of digital screens.

Cinemas will be given the film on a portable hard drive and they will then copy the content to a computer server.

Full article.

Well I never! We don't even have HDTV, and won't do for a while yet, so I'm pretty shocked by this. But it's cool anyway

Couple interesting points from the article:

• Each film is 100GB, compressed down from 1TB
• Resolution is 2048 * 1080

[wdlove]

It will be a way for those that can't afford HDTV, to actually get to se this. Here in the US we are supposed to officialy be using HDTV in 2007.

Will you be connected with this venture in anyway edesignuk.

[killuminati]

I hAad wondered about this once before. It seems so much easier (and better quality) to just use portable hard drives instead of film reels. Hopefully something like this will come to Canada soon. I have HD TV's but no HD cable or other input . So I have never seen reel HDTV before.

[LethalWolfe]

Originally Posted by killuminati

I hAad wondered about this once before. It seems so much easier (and better quality) to just use portable hard drives instead of film reels. Hopefully something like this will come to Canada soon. I have HD TV's but no HD cable or other input . So I have never seen reel HDTV before.

The quality of what they are using will not match projected film.

The reason digital project hasn't gotten very far (at least in the US) is, currently, the equipment is significantly more expensive than film projectors and will have a much shorter life span. Especially sense HD technology is still teething and hasn't reached a true equality w/film... yet. In 10 years I could see cheaper, better, more mature digital acquisition and projection really making its move. Right now there is little motivation for movie theaters to go digital because it's the distributors, not the theaters, that will see the cost savings of moving to digital.


Lethal

[garybUK]

I went to see the Incredibles at the filmworks here in Manchester in Digital and the picture was amazing, the screens are about 3x bigger than the standard cinema screen size and slightly curved inwards so i have no problem seeing a digital projection over a film one.

[Brize]

This is excellent news. Cinemas outside of London and other major cities rarely show anything other than current Hollywood films. We have three cinemas in the local area, and their programming is nearly always the same. With any luck, we'll start to see some variation before too long.

[MacNut]

Originally Posted by wdlove

It will be a way for those that can't afford HDTV, to actually get to se this. Here in the US we are supposed to officialy be using HDTV in 2007.

Your not required to be using HDTV but broadcasters have to be fully digital by late 2006, DTV and HDTV are close but different.

[Lacero]

Looks good. No more scratches or audio-drop outs from old play reels. No more having to wait in line at a premiere for a pristine copy of a film.

[MacNut]

But will the colors look as good as film, usually digital film doesn't look as good as true film stock.

[Bibulous]

Originally Posted by edesignuk

Couple interesting points from the article:

• Each film is 100GB, compressed down from 1TB
• Resolution is 2048 * 1080

Can't wait to p2p those for my home use...

[virividox]

ooo interesting i wonder when it becomes mainstream