NAGRA launches myCinema digital content distribution to commercial US theaters

[DCI forum]

NAGRA, Kudelski Group's content security and distribution control company is launching its new myCinema digital content distribution service to the US cinema market.NAGRA says it it looking to transform the cinema experience. By matching all types of content with theaters, increasing utilisation rates and income, though streaming both live events and catalog titles.

"myCinema will drive the digital transformation of the cinema experience." says André Kudelski, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Kudelski Group. "By connecting movie theater screens, myCinema brings the agility of the Internet age to cinemas. This means that an unprecedented choice of content can reach any screen at any time at very competitive distribution cost."

"The movie theater, the true and premier place for watching movies, will now welcome - with myCinema - all forms of content, entertainment and more," adds Pierre Lescure, Member of the Board of Directors of the Kudelski Group. "This may be the big opportunity for cinemas, the response to the rise of digital platforms for home entertainment. As the President of the Cannes Film Festival, I will follow this project of the Kudelski Group with great interest as it starts its first distribution in North America. This is an exciting development for the cinema industry."

"We are partnering with theater owners that are looking forward to growing their audience and maximizing venue utilization. As an Internet platform, myCinema enables diversified and flexible programming", continues André Kudelski. "Thanks to its AI-based analytics, myCinema identifies the unique fandoms active in a cinema's local community and recommends targeted content choices. myCinema also features an app-based loyalty program tailored for each local cinema that allows consumers to express their programming wishes. Another key benefit is that myCinema significantly enhances image and sound quality, which are critical to drive people to the theaters."

"Content creators will find in myCinema an Internet platform that connects their valued creations to any theater screen in a cost competitive way. This is a dramatic shift in the content distribution model, allowing theaters to screen a wide variety of content, including national interest or niche, recent or vintage and recorded or live."

NAGRA will introduce myCinema at CinemaCon 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 23-26, 2018. 


NAGRA also named the group of people assigned to lead the company:

Jean-Luc Jezouin, myCinema Lead
Mobile, broadcast and streaming media business leader. Mr. Jezouin serves as a Senior Vice-President DTV sales development at NAGRA.  Formerly of Alcatel-Lucent and Nortel.

Glenn Morten, Strategy and Solutions
Optimized streaming media pioneer; leading the overall strategy and solution development for myCinema. Mr. Morten is a Vice President at NAGRA and serves on the Board of Directors for the Entertainment Technology Center at University of Southern California. Formerly of Google, YouTube, and Widevine Technologies.

Bruce Eisen, Content Acquisition
Content acquisition strategy professional and practicing media and entertainment attorney. Mr. Eisen heads content acquisition and partnering for myCinema and is the President of LA-based Digital Advisors. Formerly of HerelsTV, DISH Networks, CinemaNow, and Trimark Pictures.

Darcy Lorincz, Sports and eSports
Media network and live streaming pioneer. Mr. Lorincz performs strategy and content partnerships for the myCinema Sports and eSports verticals. Formerly of AerNow, Accenture, Origin Digital, the BBC, and Global Crossing.

Reza Ackbaraly, Music and the Art
Music programmer and arts distribution professional.  Mr. Ackbaraly, manages content partnerships for the myCinema Music and Arts verticals. Mr. Ackbaraly is a co-founder of Quincy Jones' Qwest TV, serves as the CEO of Auditorium Films, acts as music programmer at la Petite Halle and Jazz à Vienne. Formerly of MEZZO TV.

Matt Jarman, Faith and Family
Faith and family production and technology leader. Mr. Jarman performs strategy and content partnerships for the myCinema Faith and Family verticals. Mr. Jarman also serves as CEO for ClearPlay a service that makes movies family friendly. Formerly of Sesame Street - Children's Television Workshop, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and other films for family.

Felix Garcia, Latino Music and Film
Content marketing and business development professional.  Mr. Garcia, manages content partnerships for the myCinema Latino content verticals. Mr. Garcia Also serves as VP of Business Development in 18 Countries at monitorLATINO (data and marketing firm for Latino artists).  Formerly of Viva Music.

Tim Warner Jr., Exhibitor and Entertainment Industry Relations
Business development, marketing and entertainment industry entrepreneur, leading the exhibitor relations and business development initiatives as a vice president at NAGRA. Formerly of Hill & Knowlton, O'Melveny & Myers, Widevine Technologies and others.

[Peter CINERAMAX]

kaleidescape has implemented the kudelski encryption in anticipation of day and date. What content? special features for now.

NAGRA makes the best sounding class a mosfet audio amplifier i have ever heard.

[donaldk]

Peter, one trade says it has deals in place, but would not disclose, the other says MyCinema is currently in meetings.

[DCI forum]

Cinemacon is aproaching so expect more announcements, the first one being a deal to track regional content preference distribution, or 'Fandom Genomics' with the USC School of Cinematic Arts Entertainment Technology Center. Where Yves Bergquist, and his team has helped the entertainment industry accelerate the deployment of next-generation analytics standards and solutions, including artificial intelligence.

The study is to support the launch of myCinema a new broadband-based in-theatre platform solution which offers a large catalog of alternative content titles to theater circuits of all sizes and locations. myCinema is being launched for the first time at Cinemacon 2018.

"Identifying the right content for each theatre's catchment area is a critical pillar of what makes myCinema unique and alluring for local communities. Leveraging together the ETC's thought and practice leadership in the field of audience intelligence and NAGRA Insight big data and artificial intelligence platform will be instrumental to the success of this endeavor", says Glenn Morten, ETC@USC Executive Board Member and Vice President, Cinema Strategy & Solutions, NAGRA. He adds: "We are pleased to extend our relationship with USC, which has resulted in the past in advancements in cloud-based content production, virtual reality and now deep learning around entertainment. With myCinema we hope to get people off the sofa, off their mobiles and back into the movie theaters."

"We are excited to have the opportunity to help NAGRA reimagine the cinema experience. With the use of a new community view on recommendations we believe that NAGRA's myCinema will bring communities together once again to enjoy a whole different menu of entertainment alternatives", Kenneth S. Williams, Executive Director and CEO, ETC@USC, added.

[DCI forum]

NAGRA myCinema will bring alternative content and live event cinema to the (Cinemay Buying Group) CBG-NATO membership. myCinema, the new NAGRA broadband-based solution premiering at Cinemacon 2018, will offer a large catalog of titles both live and previously recorded content to theater circuits of all sizes with a significant focus on serving the independent theater owners represented in the Cinema Buying Group-NATO. NAGRA and CBG-NATO just announced an agreement tot that effect.

With today's announcement of a business development and marketing agreement between NAGRA and the Cinema Buying Group-NATO, theatre owners in North America can contract with NAGRA with the help of CBG-NATO to efficiently deploy the myCinema service into their theatres. 

"In the 21st century theatres are becoming diverse and energized entertainment centers for the communities they serve," said Bill Campbell, Managing Director of NATO's Cinema Buying Group. He adds; "With myCinema, theatre owners are able to offer a broad range of alternative content and live events, including live musical events, sporting events and Broadway shows, faith-based programming and independent films from around the globe, as well as unique e-sporting events and leagues. The imagination is the only limit and the programming library theater management can choose from is growing constantly. This is an exciting new evolution in theatre programming".

However to date no specific content, to be made available via the service, has been announced. Hopefully this will emerge this week during or following the official launch at the Cinemacon 2018 event in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"This innovative new service will empower cinema owners and operators to revitalize their entertainment enterprise, expand their customer base and enhance the cinema-going entertainment experience", according to NAGRA in a statement. This does not bode well for owners of private cinema's looking to access a new premium source of content.

"These trusted relationships [with CBC_NATO and the likes] help cinema owners recognize the great opportunity that alternative content and live events hold for them and for their customers. As well, NAGRA's new myCinema service helps theatre owners benefit from the greater opportunity and revenue from the deployment of digital cinema within their enterprises", said Tim Warner Jr, Vice President Exhibitor Relations, NAGRA.

myCinema enables owners and operators to schedule and promote music events, sporting events, opera, ballet , Broadway, first-run independent film, re-releases of some of the best known and beloved film franchises, cinematic TV, eSports, content from around the globe, and more. Featuring excellent quality presentation of the best available content, the NAGRA solution will empower cinema owners to increase their revenue and expand the entertainment services they provide to their existing and growing base of customers. Launching this year in North America, the NAGRA service leverages the best available streaming, sound, data/recommendations, loyalty programs and high-value content security solutions, pioneered by NAGRA and its technology experts.

"myCinema is a win-win for theatre owners. It provides CBG members the opportunity to more effectively appeal to the diverse interests of their individual communities and the audiences they serve," continued Bill Campbell. "By programming high-quality events, presentations and experiences at any time of the day, myCinema allows for and encourages improved attendance during off-peak periods through non-traditional uses of our member theaters. This program is exactly the kind of programming option that was envisioned during the industry's conversion to digital cinema and is evidence that the CBG remains attentive to all areas of operations in our program offerings. We are very excited to be able to offer NAGRA's myCinema to our loyal members".