Cineola's digital content delivery system for films
Offering film producers a measure of protection from piracy, Chennai-based Cineola Digital Cinemas today launched its digital content delivery platform for film and music industry.
Based on the company's proprietary technology, the new system promises to give producers a secure hold on their content with the AES 256-byte encryption. This is expected to help in curbing piracy, which has been a major threat to the industry.
It plans to provide theatre management applications to small and large theatre owners, along with a customised website for online ticketing. Its portfolio includes deployment, digital content lab and network operations centre, among others.
Cineola CEO Nazir Ahad said there is immense potential for this advanced technology as the Indian media & entertainment market is expected to grow by 13 per cent by end of this year, and reach Rs 1,27,500 crore by 2015.
He said: "At present, theatre owners are resisting migration to the new platform because of economics and lack of awareness. However, adapting to this technology will prove to be cost-effective. We are confident that theatre owners will embrace the digital wave with our cutting edge technology.”
Cineola's FIXAL technology uses fare techniques to enhance the resolution of the imaging system, according to Ajith Abraham, R&D Head, Cineola. He said their DAXI encoding station with parallel computer architecture allows the flexibility of producing 20 film mastering and 2,500 prints a day.
The use of advanced technology reduces overhead cost of films and prints significantly for producers. "Our initial research indicated that Indian cinema has evolved and so has the audience. Theatre owners even from remote villages are looking for transition to the digital platform. This is a preventative technology against piracy,” he said.
The company will invest over Rs 50 crore in the initial phase and expand its presence in southern metros of Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Kochi. In future, Cineola Cinemas will extend its services to other markets in India and abroad.
Currently, the digital encoding station set up in Chennai, while the R&D and software development team operates from Kochi.