Following a public tender launched by Norway's cinema and video association Film & Kino last October, Unique Cinema Systems - one of Europe's leading digital providers- won the lion share of the bids (nine out of ten) and will digitally equip the entire Norwegian screen territory apart from the western region where Nordic Digital Alliance will convert the remaining 60 screens. Each cinema will receive a base-level approved 2D cinema system package consisting of a digital projector, server, TMS and NOC services. Enhancements such as 3D and 4D will be optionally purchased at the cinemas' expense. The total cost of digital conversion, to be shared between cinemas, distributors and Film & Kino, will be around NOK 390 million (€48.5m).
Now that digital testing is completed, that technical providers have been chosen and VPF (Virtual Print Free) deals are in place with the five Hollywood studios, Norway is ready to start its nationwide digital changeover, scheduled for completion by the end of 2011.
Digital cinema conversion has been accelerating fast across Europe over the last year, fuelled by the increase of 3D films on the market. According to the MEDIA programme cinema support scheme Media Salles, there were 2,602 screens using DLP Cinema or 4K technology by the end of June 2009, against 1,535 early January 2009, which means a 70% increase in only six months. During that period, the growth rate of screen digitisation increased by 50% in Denmark, 125% in Finland and 150% in Sweden.