CINEMACON/LAS VEGAS - (April 21, 2015) - Christie®, the global leader in visual displays and audio technologies, is proud to announce a record year for Christie Vive Audio™ installations worldwide, with the groundbreaking cinema speaker system on target to power its 150th screen in time for some of this year's most heavily anticipated blockbuster movies. At the current pace, the company anticipates a 100 percent increase in Christie Vive locations, with up to 300 auditoriums pumping out rich, dynamic, detailed cinema audio by CinemaCon 2016.
The latest locations to embrace Christie Vive - Southern Theatres' Movie Tavern in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Movie Tavern in Flourtown, Pennsylvania - are scheduled to open in May and July 2015, respectively. The installations are a testament to Southern Theatres' confidence in Christie Vive. The company was one of the first in the U.S. to power a multiplex exclusively with Christie Vive Audio and Christie Solaria Series Projectors - the Grand 14 Esplanade in Kenner, La., which opened in 2013; and the Movie Tavern Northshore in Covington, La., which opened last year. They followed in the steps of other renowned exhibitors such as Grupo Cinemex, which opened 21 CinemeXtremo Premium Large Format auditoriums with Christie Vive and Dolby Atmos®.
With 40 regional locations and growing, Southern Theatres has won extensive praise for providing the ultimate in movie viewing, with state-of-the-art digital projection, audio technology, and 3D capability. Its Movie Tavern locations are recognized for their full-service offerings that include casual dining, a full bar option, luxury recliners in every auditorium, and reserve seating. The result is a memorable experience that caters to all the senses, from taste and touch, to the brilliant sight of digital cinema and aural excellence of systems like Christie Vive, which unlocks the full potential of DCI digital cinema audio formats.
"We're proud of our tradition of bringing the latest developments in cutting-edge technology, which Christie Vive Audio helps us deliver," said Ron Krueger II, President and Chief Operating Officer, Southern Theatres. "We're the first theatre to power every auditorium with Christie Vive Audio, a revolutionary leap in cinema loudspeaker design that provides an improved sound experience for every guest in every seat in the house, and our commitment to installing Vive Audio is evident in our growth plans for 2015."
Rolando Maggi, Director of Infrastructure, Grupo Cinemex, agreed. "We are passionate about bringing our guests the latest in cutting-edge cinema visual and sound technology, and we count on Christie to help us deliver a consistently memorable movie viewing experience."
He added: "Since our first launch of CinemeXtremo a year ago, we remain committed to opening additional CinemeXtremo auditoriums with Dolby Atmos® and Christie Vive Audio for their exceptional performance. Cinemex Tlalnepantla will be the next locations to treat its audiences to the awesome experience of a CinemeXtremo auditorium."
"Christie Vive Audio's exceptional pace of installation attests to the groundbreaking innovation that is its cinema-specific line array design and immersive sound," said Patrick Artiaga, Director of Business Development, Audio Solutions, Christie. "We take great pride in the confidence, support, and trust that renowned exhibitors such as Southern Theatres and Grupo Cinemex place in Christie to provide them with quality cinema visual and audio solutions to meet the highest demands of today's tech-savvy audience. We look forward to celebrating many more future installations as exhibitors 'heed the call' of the superior audio experience that is Christie Vive."
