Portuguese theatre chain ZON Lusomundo has signed an agreement with XDC to roll out digital cinema systems for 180 screens.

The deal is based on a virtual print fee in which costs of installing equipment are shared.

It is a breakthrough for XDC, which announced its D-cinema proposals in May this year, after
signing agreements with four studios for deployment of 8,000 digitalscreens.

Cinema chains have been slow, however, to sign up to agreements.

XDC's Chief Executive Officer Serge Plasch said: 'Weexpect to announce additional deployment deals in other countries soon in order to reach 1,000 installed digital screens across Europe before the end of 2009'.

Lusomondo will begin rollout in January with an initial commitment of 100 screens throughout the rest of the year.