Meanwhile Sony said it has shipped 13,000 digital 4K projects to date and flagged its Sony Entertainment Access Glasses with audio support for hearing or sight imparied filmgoers, while Christie said it has signed technology agreements with Weta Digital and Park Road Post.

According to RealD as of the quarter ended Mar 23 it was installed in 20,200 screens in approximately 5,100 global venues including 11,700 screens in approximately 2,600 North American locations and approximately 8,500 screens in approximately 2,500 international sites.  

The company said this represented a 35% increase in its installed base in the last 12 months and a 3% increase during the quarter ended Mar 23, 2012. A press release read: “To date, approximately 725m filmgoers around the world have experienced a feature film in RealD 3D.”

More than 90 major theatrical releases have been shown in RealD 3D, which is deployed by approximately 900 exhibitors in 68 countries around the world. Of the 11 films to more than $1bn at the global box office, eight have been released in RealD 3D.   

In other CinemaCon news:

  • Sony Digital Cinema said it had shipped 13,000 Sony Digital Cinema 4K projectors to date. Sony also announced new digital signage and related services agreements with National Amusements Theatres and Paragon Theaters. Sony technology executives added that Sony Entertainment Access Glasses with audio in support of hearing or visually impaired audiences were also now available for exhibitors and the studio will stage demonstrations during the Apr 23-26 conference in Las Vegas.   
  • Christie has signed a technology co-operation agreement with Park Road Post Production Ltd and Weta Digital Ltd to advance digital cinema production and projection technology with particular focus on high frame rate delivery. Christie will supply a combination of ‘direct to engineering’ technical support, Christie Solaria Series DLP Cinema projectors and early access to prototype projection technologies, including laser projectors under development.

Park Road and Weta will upgrade their facilities with Christie projectors and provide Christie with review, testing and feedback on new hardware and software developments related to high-bandwidth interfaces and high frame rate technology, as well as sample movie content for Christie to use in testing its projectors and integrated media block units.

Separately, Christie Managed Services has implemented boothless projection systems, which will not require a human operator, at two California-based Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas sites in Carmel and Carlsbad.