11.22.2005
NEW SONY PICTURES AGREEMENT WITH CHRISTIE/AIX
SUPPORTS DIGITAL CINEMA TRANSITION
- Sony Pictures’ Commitment
Will Further Speed Exhibitor Adoption of Digital Cinema
-
Morristown, NJ, November
22, 2005 – Moving aggressively to accelerate
the transition to digital cinema, Christie/AIX, a unit
of Access Integrated Technologies (“AccessIT”),
(AMEX:AIX) today announced an agreement with Sony Pictures
Entertainment whereby Sony Pictures will supply its
upcoming films in DCI-compliant format to the 4,000
digital projection systems Christie/AIX intends to install
in movie theaters in the U.S. and Canada over the next
two years.
“We look forward to supporting
Christie/AIX’s Digital Cinema rollout, which combines
innovative technologies with a true understanding of
the specific business needs of each distributor and
exhibitor," said Jeff Blake, Vice Chairman of Sony
Pictures Entertainment and Chairman of Worldwide Marketing
and Distribution for Columbia TriStar Motion Picture
Group. "Digital Cinema will enable us to better
deliver our creative content to audiences immersing
them in a visually compelling form for a unique entertainment
experience.”
Jack Kline, President and COO,
Christie, noted: “Sony Pictures has consistently delivered
exciting, first class entertainment to audiences around
the world. Their commitment is a great endorsement of
the strength and viability of the Christie/AIX rollout
strategy. Our proven plan is helping Hollywood and the
exhibition communities make the transition to Digital
Cinema seamless, while bringing renewed excitement to
the movie going experience.”
Commenting on the agreement, Bud
Mayo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AccessIT,
said: “We are pleased that Sony Pictures has joined
our rapidly growing list of studio partners. Christie/AIX
is the first to implement a Digital Cinema rollout as
we proceed with the first 150 screens of our planned
installations. The signings of additional studios means
more content for the increasing number of exhibitors
who have indicated they wish to participate in our plan
as well as increased cash flows for Christie/AIX.”
The Agreement with Sony Pictures
is in addition to recent agreements signed with Disney,
Twentieth Century Fox and Universal, which has prompted
Christie/AIX to begin the initial deployment of Digital
Cinema systems in theatres in Detroit, Michigan owned
by Emagine Entertainment, Inc. and at multiple locations
in San Diego and Riverside County (CA) multiplexes owned
by Ultrastar Theaters, Inc. A total of 150 Digital Cinema
systems are expected to be operational at these circuits
by December 31, 2005.
Chuck Goldwater, President and
Chief Operating Officer of Christie/AIX, added: ”Sony
has long been a pioneer in digital entertainment both
technologically and in distribution. With its support,
exhibitors will now gain access to a major new source
of content for use on the growing number of digitally
equipped screens. Based upon our late-stage negotiations
and discussions with additional studios, a growing number
of independent distributors plus both large and small
exhibitors, we believe that Digital Cinema has the potential
to reach all the screens in the U.S. and Canada within
a decade.”
About Sony Pictures
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of
Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based
Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass
motion picture production and distribution; television
production and distribution; digital content creation
and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home
entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation
of studio facilities; development of new entertainment
products, services and technologies; and distribution
of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures
Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at
http://www.sonypictures.com.
About Christie
Christie is a leader in visual solutions for world-class
organizations, offering diverse applications for business,
entertainment, and industry. A leading innovator in
film projection since 1929 and a pioneer in digital
projection systems since 1979, Christie has established
a global reputation as a total service provider and
the world's single source manufacturer of a variety
of display technologies and solutions. Christie offers
comprehensive solutions for cinema, large audience venues,
control rooms, business presentations, training facilities,
3D and Virtual Reality, simulation and education as
well as industrial and government environments. For
more information, visit www.christiedigital.com.
Access Integrated Technologies,
Inc. (AccessIT) is
an industry leader in offering a fully managed storage
and electronic delivery service for owners and distributors
of digital content to movie theaters and other venues.
Supported by its robust platform of fail-safe Internet
data centers, AccessIT is
able to leverage the market-leading role of its Theatrical
Distribution System (TDS) with its innovative digital
delivery capabilities and in-theatre software systems
to provide the highest level of technology available
to enable the emerging Digital Cinema industry to transition
from film without changing workflows. For more information
on AccessIT, visit www.accessitx.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Investors and readers are cautioned that certain statements
contained in this document, as well as some statements
in periodic press releases and some oral statements
of AccessIT officials during presentations
about AccessIT, along with AccessIT
's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including AccessIT 's registration statements,
quarterly reports on Form 10-QSB and annual report on
Form 10-KSB, are "forward-looking'' statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act''). Forward-looking
statements include statements that are predictive in
nature, which depend upon or refer to future events
or conditions, which include words such as "expects'',
"anticipates'', "intends'', "plans'',
“could”, “might”, "believes'', “seeks”, "estimates''
or similar expressions. In addition, any statements
concerning future financial performance (including future
revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business
strategies or prospects, and possible future actions,
which may be provided by AccessIT’s management,
are also forward-looking statements as defined by the
Act. Forward-looking statements are based on current
expectations and projections about future events and
are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions
about AccessIT, its technology, economic and
market factors and the industries in which AccessIT
does business, among other things. These statements
are not guarantees of future performance and AccessIT
undertakes no specific obligation or intention to update
these statements after the date of this release.
# # #
Jim Kennedy
Sony Pictures Entertainment
310.244.6777
jim_kennedy@spe.sony.com
http://www.sonypictures.com.
Dorina Belu
Christie
519.749.3323
dorina.belu@christiedigital.com
www.christiedigital.com
Suzanne Tregenza Moore
Access Integrated Technologies, Inc.
973.290.0080
smoore@accessitx.com
www.accessitx.com
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