South Africa is set to get more digital cinema screens with the announcement of a deal
between one of the continent’s largest chains, Nu Metro, and digital cinema company
Arts Alliance Media (AAM). The deal will see all of Nu Metro’s 149 screens converted to
digital under AAM’s VPF (Virtual Print Fee) model, whereby film distributors contribute
towards the cost of installing digital equipment.
The rollout, which has already begun and will be concluded by the end of November this
year, will see digital equipment configured and installed by AAM engineers at 16 Nu
Metro sites across South Africa. Each site will also be installed with Screenwriter, AAM’s
Theatre Management System (TMS) software to manage and automate the running of
the complex.
Luke Roberts, General Manager of Nu Metro, commented “Having started our digital
conversion already, we’re pleased to be able to join forces with Arts Alliance Media, and
benefit from their extensive digital cinema expertise, as well as the funding provided by
the VPF model. We look forward to being able to offer customers in all of our cinemas,
all the benefits that digital cinema brings.’
Howard Kiedaisch, Chief Executive Officer of Arts Alliance Media added “Nu Metro was
the first company to open an all-digital cinema in South Africa several years ago, and
we’re always delighted to help digital pioneers complete a full conversion of their estate.
The Nu Metro team have always been innovators in digital cinema and we’re really
pleased to be working with them.’
Arts Alliance Media, which is the only cinema services company to have active VPF deals
for Europe, South Africa and Latin America, also has a digital cinema rollout agreement
with South Africa’s leading chain Ster Kinekor.
