GDC Technology Limited (‘GDC’) and OneCinema GmbH (formerly EIKONA Cinema Solutions), providers of digital cinema solutions and software to the global cinema industry, announced today at CineEurope 2024 that the centralized playback capabilities of GDC’s SCL Series Centralized Storage Playback Solution were integrated with OneCinema TMS. This partnership will enable customers from both companies to benefit from the centralized playback capabilities of the SCL Series playback server on the OneCinema TMS Platform. With the DCPs streaming from a SCL central playback server connected to all the media servers in a multiplex, copying of DCP content from central storage such as TMS to the screen media servers is no longer needed.

Whereas OneCinema was already supporting GDC media servers, this breakthrough integration with GDC’s SCL centralized playback server saves valuable time for cinema owners, enabling each screen’s storage capacity to increase by up to 100 times when compared to the traditional file transfer method, while keeping the fast-paced show scheduling and advanced functionalities offered by the OneCinema TMS.

It is now possible to connect an SCL centralized playback server to a OneCinema TMS for easy show scheduling, and playlist management without the need to copy content to the screen servers. Thus, SCL centralized playback server minimizes the amount of storage space required on each screen server. Shows can be multiplied without the effort of intermediate local screen server copy-processes, enabling playback of thousands of movies from central storage to every screen in up to 30-plex cinema. With this integration, manual stress, or mistakes due to human intervention are significantly reduced.

Cinema operation can be streamlined with fully automated advertising integration, real-time monitoring, and a practical early warning system that prevents show failures due to missing content or missing, invalid or expired KDMs.

Joachim Schmitt, CEO of OneCinema GmbH, said “We’re proud of this technical achievement and would like to thank the GDC and OneCinema teams who worked hard on this connectivity between our systems, which will enable our customers to benefit from even greater ease of use, while enabling GDC CA2.0 customers to have access to a cutting-edge TMS that automates the planning and management of cinemas. Together, our companies are proving that the future of cinema lies in open platforms, simplifying and automating the technical aspects of cinema management, so that we can focus on what really matters: delivering an incredible entertainment experience for moviegoers.”

“This partnership with OneCinema is another milestone for GDC,” said Adam MacDonald, European sales manager for GDC Technology. “We strongly believe the collaboration of industry leaders working together will enhance a cinema’s operations flexibility. Today’s news marks a new chapter in the way cinemas will operate. With OneCinema as our partner, we’re enabling a smarter way to manage content playback and scheduling.”

About GDC Technology Limited
GDC Technology Limited (‘GDC’) is a leading digital cinema solutions provider with its manufacturing facility certified with ISO 9001:2015 by SGS. GDC develops, manufactures, and sells cinema media server for both projector and LED cinema display, content storage system, cinema audio processors, cinema enterprise software including theatre management system and advanced cinema automation system for the global cinema industry. GDC is a licensee of the DTS Surround and DTS:X with IAB, the object-based immersive sound technology from DTS, Inc. for the development of its media servers and cinema audio processors. In addition, GDC also provides a suite of digital cinema products and services, including cinema projectors, LED cinema, 3D product, audio equipment, projector lamp, post-production service, and Electronic Delivery System (EDS).

About OneCinema
OneCinema GmbH (formerly EIKONA Cinema Solutions) is a leading provider of software to the global cinema industry. Since 2012, the German-based company has enabled cinema exhibitors to streamline their operations, reduce overall costs and generate new revenue. OneCinema’s innovative software combines Theater Management System (TMS), Digital Signage and Automation for cinema equipment and building technology via a central cloud system to create the complete package for cinema circuits and individual operators. Through optimal integration with all third-party systems such as POS/Ticketing, content delivery, loyalty tools and advertising platforms, OneCinema achieves the highest level of automation, creating a seamless digital workflow across all areas of cinema operations. In line with their moto “Focus on Entertainment”, OneCinema empowers cinema exhibitors to concentrate on offering their customers an unforgettable cinema experience.