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Viewer experience enhanced as digital cinema projectors rolled out across Europe

Odeon UCI selects NEC Display Solutions for complete digital cinema overhaul

Munich, 18 April 2012 – NEC Display Solutions Europe has been working with the Odeon and UCI Cinemas Group , Europe's largest cinema operator, to upgrade all of its theatres across the region to use NEC digital projectors.

NEC was selected due to the reliability and excellent quality of the projectors and underpinned by the seven-year partnership between the two companies. The deal sees more than 2,100 theatres across Odeon UCI's 231 cinemas in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy and Portugal upgraded to one of the four digital cinema projectors available from NEC.

This project is in its final phase - with delivery of all units now complete - and will deliver an enhanced cinema-going experience for movie lovers across the continent. Not only do these digital projectors provide a better quality and more reliable image, but also provide greater flexibility for repurposing theatres to easily adapt showings based on time of day and viewer demand. Similarly, digital projectors allow for the streaming of alternative content such as live sporting events or theatre performances.

For Odeon UCI, upgrading fully to digital projectors also provides a host of efficiency benefits, including easier content distribution – thanks to no longer needing large reels to be shipped around and stored – central control of adverts and trailers, as well as simpler theatre operation and better monitoring and control of each individual projector.

The long-standing partnership between NEC and UCI extends across all levels and all geographies, giving UCI the peace-of-mind that in the event of problems arising, there is a solid support structure in place to deal with the issue quickly and with minimal downtime.

"We strive to deliver the most engaging cinema experience for our customers, and this means not only providing the best movies, but also delivering them on the best equipment possible," said Drew Kaza, Executive Vice President Digital Development at the Odeon and UCI Cinemas Group. "We've been working closely with NEC for over seven years now, and consistently been impressed by the quality of the products and the level of support provided, at every single level."

"The digitisation of cinema production and screening processes help mitigate concerns about increasing manual operating costs, security and environmental issues, but most importantly it provides the best cinema experience possible," said Mark Kendall, Business Development Manager for Digital Cinema at NEC Display Solutions Europe. “NEC has been a pioneer in digital cinema technologies from the outset, creating a track record of success in this area and this project, combined with our long standing relationship with Odeon UCI reinforces that position.”

Once the final digital projector installations are complete, NEC will be working with Odeon UCI to discuss the possibilities of expanding the partnership to include digital signage options for the foyers and network operations centres for more centralised control of each theatre and smoother management of the entire content delivery lifecycle.

NEC Display Solutions Europe GmbH has its European headquarters in Munich, Germany and is responsible for all business activities in EMEA, divided into the five sales regions Northern Europe, Central and Central East Europe, Western and South Europe/Mediterranean, Commonwealth of Independent States and Middle East/Africa. NEC Display Solutions benefits from the technological know-how and technologies of the NEC Corporation and, with its own Research and Development, is one of the world's leading manufacturers offering the widest product range of display solutions in the market. The display product portfolio ranges from entry-level to professional and speciality desktop LCDs, via large-size Public Displays for Digital and Retail Signage. The Projector range offers products for all needs, from portable devices via business projectors to products for permanent operation (such as PoS applications) and digital cinema projectors. Managing Director of the European head office is Bernd Eberhardt.

Further information can be found online at: www.sharpnecdisplays.eu

NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company’s experience and global resources, NEC’s advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society.

For more information, visit NEC at: www.nec.com

Contacts for further information:

Ann Kjellser
PR Manager EMEA
NEC Display Solutions Europe GmbH
Tel: +46 72 162 87 19
Email: ann.kjellser@emea.nec.com

Yasmine Boucetta
International Associate Director
LEWIS PR
Tel: +49 89 17 30 19 40
Email: yasmine.boucetta@lewispr.com