GDC Technology Ltd (‘GDC’), a leading global provider of digital solutions announced today ARENA Cinemas (‘Arena’), a leading European cinema chain in Switzerland, converted 58 screens across all locations to the GDC’s Cinema Automation 2.0 technology (‘CA2.0’) including the flagship 18-screen ‘Sihlcity’ site in Zurich.

CA2.0 continues to be a game-changer around the world – the first-ever integrated solution that leverages machine intelligence to help exhibitors cut operating costs, increase revenues and monitor screening quality. To date, over 1,100 screens worldwide are using CA2.0 to manage their content in real-time. As multiplexes gain ever more screens, manpower requirements expand proportionately. CA2.0 revolutionizes digital cinema management, with three powerful functions for improved efficiency, enhanced reliability and reduced human intervention:

1) SCL Series Centralized Storage Playback Solution – Over 2000 movies can be stored and  made available on a single SCL-4000 Mk2 centralized server, which are live-streamed immediately to each screen with no local ingest required.

2) Automatic Content Management and Show Playlist Generation – operator only needs to  program shows once via the point of sale, and CA2.0 handles subsequent procedures  automatically.

3) Intelligent Cinema Equipment Management and Quality Assurance – System  intelligently turns power supply on or off for cinema equipment saving energy and  time-consuming manual effort. CA2.0 manages screening quality by smart testing and  analysis of luminance, chromaticity and sound pressure level. Screening check is performed  automatically with results available instantaneously.

The installations and further developments in the whole complex cinema ecosystem were  managed by leading systems integrator Imaculix, based in Zurich, Switzerland.

“In the beginning, we were very sceptical about the whole topic of streaming. Especially the  stability and reliability had to be simulated in our Plex TestLab and tested in stress tests.  Afterwards, we were able to convince Arena Cinemas to invest in the CA2.0 GDC system  during the difficult times when the cinemas were still closed, and we replaced the entire  infrastructure including TMS in the German and French-speaking parts of Switzerland, said  Andy Bohli, CEO Imaculix.

“Since the reopening of the cinemas in spring 2021, the system has been working cleanly  and stably. Due to the speed of the playout and streaming technology, this allows us as an  innovator in the cinema world completely new possibilities to stage cinemas like our Cinema  On Demand product to try to help to make the cinemas more evolved.”

“GDC love working with businesses who fully understand and appreciate the benefits  advanced technology can offer. We have been massively impressed with the  professionalism of Imaculix in this project as well as the determination of Arena to truly  change their way of operating, said Dr. Man-Nang Chong, founder, chairman and CEO of  GDC Technology Limited. “Since 2001, GDC’s smart cinema solutions have continually  evolved to save cinema operators’ time, effort and cost. With CA2.0, Arena can continue to  stay at the cutting edge of cinema technology.”

Patrick Tavoli, CEO of Arena Cinemas, praised the solution, “At the beginning we were very  skeptical whether this would work at all. Since the beginning of Going Live we finally have  the possibility to play and within minutes we can adapt to the needs and capacity of our  customers in the cinemas. Very simple. Make changes in the box office system and 15  minutes later the film is running in the corresponding auditorium. This is what I want to get  flexible and response to our customers needs.”

Learn More at CineEurope 2021
Delegates attending CineEurope in Barcelona will be able to experience Supra-5000 in live  demonstrations in the GDC Technology mini-theatre in suite MR 131 on P1 level of the CCIB  during trade show hours from October 5 – 7.

About GDC Technology Limited
GDC Technology Limited (‘GDC’) is a leading digital cinema solutions provider. GDC  develops, manufactures and sells media servers, content storage systems, theatre  management systems and network operations center software for the global cinema  industry. GDC is a licensee of the DTS:XTM object-based immersive sound technology from  DTS, Inc. for the development of its media servers. In addition, GDC also provides a suite of  digital cinema products and services, including integrated projection systems, 3D products,  projector lamps and silver screens.

About Imaculix
Imaculix creates a wide variety of multimedia content (artwork, motion, social media,  presentations, marketing campaigns), trailer adaptations, feature film masterings, edits 90%  of all cinema trailers and operates, among other things, a digital signage system Cingerine  that plays on the screens of Arena Cinemas, Pathé Suisse SA, Pathé Africa as well as in  various retail and DOOH locations. With the Buckinski, we operate the in-house cinema  which is used by various distributors as a screening room.

For more than 10 years Imaculix has been developing and implementing innovations in the  cinema and digital signage market. For example, installing and assisting in the birth of the  world’s first 4K 3D ONYX Cinema LED installation at Arena Cinemas.

About Arena Cinemas Switzerland
Arena Cinemas AG With the opening of the multiplex cinema at the Sihlcity mall in 2007, Arena Cinemas has laid the foundation for its current group of cinemas. The second largest  group of cinemas in Switzerland, Arena Cinemas is the only one to be present at seven sites, with a total of 69 screens in the three linguistic regions. With Arena Cinemas Sihlcity  in Zurich, it operates a megaplex – currently the only one in Switzerland – with 18 screens. In  July 2021 the new 14-screen cinema in Basel with 4DX, ScreenX on the most of the locations since 2015 and an HyperBowling by Arena with 14 Lanes first in Switzerland was  added to the group. With its special technologies like World first 4K 3D ONYX in Zurich and ScreenX and 4DX installations on most of the Locations – always at the forefront of innovation.