Regal inks largest 3D deployment deal

Regal Entertainment the largest movie theatre circuit in the USA, and indeed the world, has inked an agreement with digital stereoscopic technology provider RealD for the roll-out of 1,500 3D systems over the next few years. The deal is the largest mooted in the 3D arena, and by RealD itself to date, eclipsing the Odeon/UCI target to equip 500 3D screens with RealD technology by 2009. However, the deals are both contingent on deployment of the underlying digital cinema platform, necessary to add the 3D portion of the upgrade. For Regal, upgrading 1,500 of its screens or around 22 per cent of its total screen base to 3D, hinges on finalising studio contributions in the form of the VPF for DCIP, the joint venture it set up with AMC and Cinemark for digital cinema deployments.