PVR to deploy Samsung 'Onyx' Cinema LED technology

Cinema theatre chain PVR said today that it has tied up with Samsung to use the Korean electronics major's 'Onyx' LED technology, which brings to move goers enhanced display and sound quality experience.

The technology replaces the projection-based show of movies.

It has been deployed at a theatre here and will be extended to another PVR property in Mumbai by November.

"We are the first cinema exhibition chain in the country to introduce this disruptive theatre technology for Indian movie-goers," PVR Ltd Joint Managing Director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli told PTI.

He added that the technology, which requires an investment of roughly Rs 7 crore per screen, will be deployed at another PVR property in Mumbai this year. The company will gauge viewer response before taking a call on future deployments.

PVR operates the largest multiplex network in the country with 643 screens at 138 properties in 54 cities. It served over 75 million viewers last year and expects this to grow to 100 million this fiscal.

Samsung India Vice President, Consumer Electronics Enterprise Business Puneet Sethi said the current deployment is among the few screens worldwide that is powered by the new-age technology.

"There are about 8-10 screens across countries like the US, Mexico, Korea... we are in discussions with other companies as well for deployments in India," he added.

Onyx Cinema LED moves away from the projection systems hitherto and delivers better picture and sound quality, he said.

The screen offers Onyx surround sound experience from JBL by Harman International and Samsung's Audio Lab.

This integration, according to Sethi, eliminates the audio 'sweet spot' in the middle of the theatre and ensures that all viewers can enjoy the same experience regardless of seat location within the theatre.