Cinemark will provide a closed captioning option for people who are deaf or have significant hearing loss in all of its first-run theatres. Cinemark is installing captioning systems on a rolling basis across its circuit in conjunction with the chain's conversion to an all-digital format. Installation started early this year and about half of Cinemark’s theaters in California already have captioning capability. Cinemark will be able to offer closed captioning at all of its first-run theaters by mid 2012. Movie captions convey the dialogue narration musical cues and key sound effects speaker identification and other auditory information in the form of written text for those viewers who have significant difficulty hearing the movie sound track. Closed captions are relayed—in sync with the movie—only to members of the audience who choose to receive them via a personal display device. The captions are not visible on the screen to the rest of the audience. The Association of Late-Deafened Adults an advocacy group for those with who have lost some or all of their hearing applauded Cinemark's commitment. Cinemark has worked closely with ALDA in setting the timetable for installation of captioning capability in California. ALDA also agreed to dismiss a lawsuit the organization filed in late 2010 over captioning issues in Cinemark’s California theatres. They were represented by Sid Wolinsky and Kevin Knestrick of Disability Rights Advocates a non-profit legal center headquartered in Berkeley California and John Waldo an attorney whose practice focuses on the needs of those with hearing loss. “We are pleased with Cinemark’s support for captioning. This decision makes first-run movies available to millions of patrons who are deaf and hard-of-hearing in California. They deserve to participate in this quintessential American experience ” said Knestrick. “We want to commend Cinemark for the prompt and cooperative way it resolved this case ” Waldo said. Linda Drattell a plaintiff in the case said “I am delighted that around this time next year people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing will be able to watch first-run movies at Cinemark theaters throughout California.” Cinemark selected the CaptiView Closed Caption Viewing System from Burbank-based Doremi Cinemas to transmit the closed captions to audience members who desire the assistance of captioning. CaptiView provides captioning to those who have significant difficulty hearing the movie soundtrack via an OLED display on a bendable support arm that fits into the theater seat cup holder. This device provided to movie patrons upon request operates on an internal wireless system and can be used in any seat in the theatre. The OLED screen provides exceptionally clear captions. The device is also equipped with a privacy visor which ensures that the captioning has no impact on neighboring movie patrons. Cinemark was pleased to collaborate with ALDA ” said Michael Cavalier general counsel and senior vice president of Cinemark USA Inc. “The conversion to digital cinema has facilitated the development of closed captioning systems like CaptiView. We now have a platform that makes full implementation of a captioning system viable. Cinemark has worked closely with our suppliers to make certain that we are providing the highest quality closed caption system.” Laura Franze a partner with the law firm of Hunton & Williams who represented Cinemark in working out the settlement with ALDA said “Cinemark has long recognized the importance of making the movies it exhibits accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences and has supported captioning in different forms for many years. With the conversion to digital cinema and the development of digital closed captioning systems like CaptiView Cinemark was moving ahead to full implementation of closed captioning even before this lawsuit was filed.” Michael Archer vice president of Digital Cinema at Doremi said When we began the in-house design of the CaptiView product two years ago we worked closely with Cinemark our long-term partner to create a viable high-quality product that displays closed captions for digital cinema. We are pleased to have this opportunity to work with Cinemark to provide captioned movies to their patrons across the country. ,2398

Carmike Signs Satellite Deal with Deluxe/EchoStar,2011-05-14,Deluxe/EchoStar will deliver movies through its satellite system to 239 theaters owned by Carmike Cinemas as soon as the necessary equipment is installed. Both companies expect deliveries to begin by the end of the year. Carmike's theaters include more than 2 100 digital screens that will get movies trailers and live programming through the satellite system. Nearly 600 of the digital screens can show 3D films. Carmike's theatres are primarily located in communities across small-town America. This new service will deliver 2D and 3D digital cinema prints in 2K and 4K formats 2D and 3D alternative content trailers as well as connect to live events and other media programming. The system also accommodates closed captioning sub-titles and gaming. Benefits include faster delivery of content by transmitting a movie in hours and a trailer in minutes as well as reducing traditional freight costs associated with shipping hard drives to theaters. Carmike Cinemas president and CEO David Passman says As one of the pioneers and earliest adopters of theatrical digital cinema presentation Carmike is delighted to partner with Deluxe/EchoStar on this new venture. We look forward to providing our valued cinema-going customers with cutting-edge experiences featuring a tremendous array of digital content through this important mutually beneficial agreement. Deluxe/EchoStar is committed to building a satellite distribution infrastructure so that exhibitors can connect to all forms of entertainment content including current releases classic films and live events says Rick O'Hare senior vice president Deluxe Entertainment Services Group and general manager Deluxe/EchoStar. With Carmike Cinemas' dedication to presenting the best possible movie going experience for its patrons I am pleased that we were chosen to be a part of that experience says John Wolski vice president exhibitor services for Deluxe. ,2401

See African Cats Save the Savanna Campaign Preserves 50 000 Acres of Land,2011-05-14, Disneynature has announced that its See African Cats Save the Savanna campaign will help protect more than 50 000 acres of land in Kenya’s Amboseli Wildlife Corridor on behalf of the moviegoers who came out to see Disneynature’s motion picture African Cats during its opening week in April. A portion of the proceeds from the opening-week ticket sales will be donated to the African Wildlife Foundation through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to ensure the future of lions cheetahs elephants zebras giraffes and a host of other animals in the vibrant African savanna. The area to be protected equates to 100 Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Parks or more than twice the size of Manhattan. The AWF will be working to establish the Amboseli Wildlife Corridor a passage between the Amboseli Tsavo West and Chyulu Hills National Parks that is frequently used by a variety of wildlife. “We’re so proud that audiences nationwide have embraced the film and the See African Cats Save the Savanna initiative ” says Alan Bergman president of The Walt Disney Studios. “The conservation efforts Disneynature has supported so far span the globe—from planting trees in Brazil to preserving coral reef in The Bahamas and now protecting this essential passage in Kenya—they’ve become an extraordinary part of our films and audiences have played a key role in helping our planet.” “The See African Cats Save the Savanna program transformed the moviegoing experience into tangible on-the-ground conservation action ” says Dr. Patrick Bergin CEO African Wildlife Foundation. “The commitment of Disneynature combined with the passion of moviegoers will raise critical funds to conserve the land that the magnificent species featured in African Cats call home. Through this amazing collaboration we celebrate our 50th Anniversary together with Disneynature and all the people who are helping establish the Amboseli Wildlife Corridor.” While the opening-week ticket sales will help protect more than 50 000 acres of the Amboseli Wildlife Corridor the conservation efforts tied to African Cats do not end there. Additional collaborations are committed to adding at least another 15 000 acres to the program–from the sale of artwork and jewelry inspired by the film to the sale of Jordin Sparks’ The World I Knew single to the Cast Member Earth Month pledges across the Walt Disney Company plus more. These programs many of them ongoing support the Save the Savanna initiative which will have a positive long term and sustainable impact on the animals and people of Africa. See African Cats Save the Savanna continues Disneynature’s conservation efforts which began with its first release Earth (2009) for which three million trees were planted in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. The program in support of Oceans (2010) helped establish 40 000 acres of marine protected areas in The Bahamas which contain miles of vital coral reef. African Wildlife Foundation http://www.awf.org/ ,2402

Clearview Cinemas Chooses Doremi for Digital Cinema Conversion ,2011-05-14, Clearview Cinemas has selected the Doremi Integrated Media Block/ShowVault as its exclusive playback system for the circuit’s conversion to digital cinema. Clearview Cinemas is one of the New York metropolitan area's largest film exhibitors operating 46 theatres with 243 screens across the tri-state area including the legendary Ziegfeld Theatre With 42 of its screens already using Doremi servers Clearview will continue to implement the servers across additional screens in May. “Clearview is committed to providing moviegoers with an enjoyable and quality entertainment experience and digital cinema is an integral part of that experience ” says Doug Oines senior vice president and general manager of Clearview Cinemas. That’s why we’ve continued to partner with Doremi the industry leader for digital cinema server technology and use their reliable products and services in our theatres.” “We are thrilled that Clearview Cinemas has selected Doremi Cinema as their server company ” says Hannah Cash senior sales manager of Doremi Cinema. “We look forward to providing them not only with Digital Cinema playback solutions but also products for alternative content and cinema accessibility to meet their customers’ needs.”