Cinemark to set a new visual standard for cinema with Cinionic, upgrading its circuit over the next decade with Barco laser Series 4
Kortrijk, Belgium, December 18, 2019 – Cinionic, the Barco cinema joint venture illuminating more than half of the world’s movie theaters, announces an exclusive laser agreement with long-term strategic partner Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), one of the world’s largest movie exhibitors, operating more than 6,000 screens. During the 10-year deal, Cinionic will upgrade Cinemark’s chain with award-winning Barco Series 4 laser projectors and integrated Barco Alchemy media servers. The transformation of Cinemark’s fleet in the United States and Latin America into state-of-the-art, laser-powered entertainment destinations further solidifies both companies’ commitment to elevating the movie-going experience for global audiences.
Following the digital cinema revolution, the companies enabled an enhanced visual experience on thousands of screens.
More than seven years ago, Barco pioneered laser technology for the cinema industry and has continually invested in the solution, building to more than 20,000 laser-powered screens around the world. Today, Cinionic and Cinemark renew their commitment to the future of cinema, their partnership, and laser to power the next generation.
“We are extremely pleased to continue our decade-long relationship with Cinionic, a trusted and valued business partner,” stated Damian Wardle, EVP Technology Operations & Presentation. “Key considerations in the selection of Cinionic’s laser technology included the quality of the presentation, as well as the best overall cost of ownership and maintenance over the long-run.”
Since its debut at CinemaCon 2019, Series 4 has powered the laser renewal in the cinema industry thanks to brilliant 4K images and patented technologies. Harnessing the power of laser-projection from Cinionic, Cinemark benefits from significant cost-savings and a reduced carbon footprint with 80% less power consumption and no more waste from lamps. The laser transition offers millions of moviegoers a greener way to go to the cinema.
Wim Buyens, CEO of Cinionic, commented, “This landmark partnership marks the single largest circuit upgrade to laser, setting a new visual standard for moviegoers. Honoring our joint achievements, we are spearheading the renewal wave in cinema. This is a watershed moment for the industry, 2019 is the year laser became the new norm for cinemas around the world.”
Cinemark consistently reports the highest attendance per screen among leading exhibitors due to its continuous efforts to enhance its in-theater quality, services and amenities, including stunning and consistent visual experiences. The fully integrated Cinionic solution for Cinemark will deliver vivid colors, sharp focus, and brighter cinema projection for a future film slate that includes highly anticipated Hollywood titles in 2020 such as Wonder Woman 1984, Mulan, Marvel’s Eternals, and Pixar releases Onward and Soul.