Arts Alliance Media
Arts Alliance Media is a digital distribution company based in London, United Kingdom , with outposts in Paris, Amsterdam, Kristiansand, Norway and New York. It operates in the following business areas:
- Digital cinema
- Video on demand (VOD)
- Electronic Sell Through (EST)
- Cinema Services (Newman)
- Industry Services (Vizumi Pro)
It is also the single largest shareholder in LOVEFiLM, an online DVD rental company.
Digital Cinema
In April 2007, Arts Alliance Media completed the rollout of the UK Film Council’s Digital Screen Network (DSN), a $20m contract to install and operate Europe’s largest 2k digital cinema network. 232 of the 241 screens have been installed on schedule, with the remaining 11 to be installed later in 2007 when cinemas have completed building works or construction. All screens are JPEG2000 compatible, in line with the specifications developed by the Digital Cinema Initiatives consortium.
AAM is responsible for installing and maintaining the equipment, and training operators. AAM also offers distributors that use the circuit special rates for content management and duplication services. AAM originally operated the UKFC DSN Network using QuVis Cinema Player servers, but part way through the rollout, opted to replace these servers with Doremi DCP2000 servers. This coincided with a move to mastering all future features in the industry standard JPEG2000 format and an effort from AAM to remaster existing content to bring it in line with the JPEG2000 standard.
AAM is also expanding its operations into Europe, beginning with a 10 screen digital cinema circuit in Norway as part of the Nordic Digital Alliance, and is participating in a commercial digital cinema trial in the UK, with Odeon Cinemas.
In June 2007, Arts Alliance Media announced the first European commercial digital cinema Virtual Print Fee (VPF) agreements (with Twentieth Century Fox and Universal Pictures)
Download to Rent/Download to Own
Arts Alliance Media acts as a content aggregator and technology supplier, offering a package of rights cleared content and a technology service to run digital content download and streaming businesses. AAM's Vizumi Networkprovides the technology and content behind download services such as those offered by LOVEFiLM and Empire. AAM's Vizumi Network currently carries content from 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. and independents such as Momentum, Tartan, Icon, Artificial Eye and Revolver.
Cinema Services (Newman)
Arts Alliance Newman is an online service for independent cinemas offering back office operations management and customer relationship management. Newman powers websites and online booking for several independent cinemas, including City Screen Cinemas.
Industry Services (Vizumi Pro)
Vizumi Pro is a secure web based service to enable films, trailers and promo reels to be viewed over the internet.