Texas Fans to Enjoy College Rivals Pair-up in Theatres Around the State
MORRISTOWN, N.J., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Walt Disney Studios, ESPN and Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. ("AccessIT") (NASDAQ:AIXD) will team up to stream a live HD broadcast of the classic rivalry between the University of Texas and Texas A&M into digital cinema- equipped theatres throughout Texas on February 18, 2008. The game will be shown on a total of 15 screens in Carmike Cinemas, Galaxy Theatres and Rave Motion Pictures cinema locations. Excited fans, unable to be in the Longhorn's sold-out Frank Erwin Center, will be able to cheer together from the equivalent of courtside seats as the teams tip-off.
This is the first time Disney, ESPN and AccessIT have joined forces to provide a live sporting event to paying audiences following tests last year. It is also the first event at which AccessIT's CineLive(TM) technology, providing live 2-D and 3-D streaming of alternative content to theatres, will be employed for a major sports spectacle since the product was announced last fall.
"One of the many reasons we've supported AccessIT's leadership in transitioning the industry to digital cinema is to be able to provide events such as this one to eager audiences," said Chuck Viane, President, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Distribution. "Fans get to enjoy the action of often sold-out games and the camaraderie of others without having to travel great distances, and each one gets the best seat in the house." "Working with Disney and ESPN to bring this event to geographically- dispersed exhibitors and their patrons is a dramatic example of the shift we anticipate in the industry. With digital cinema, not only can theatergoers enjoy more events like this basketball showdown, but we anticipate large audiences will also enjoy an increasing number of Disney programs like the recently released Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus concert in 3-D," added Bud Mayo, Chairman and CEO of AccessIT.
About The Walt Disney Studios The Walt Disney Studios is a unit of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) and produces and distributes motion pictures under the following banners: Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation, Disney-Pixar Animation as well as Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures and Miramax Films. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International serves as the Studio's international distribution arm. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment distributes Disney and other film titles to the rental and sell-through home entertainment markets. Disney Theatrical Group is among the world's most successful commercial theatre enterprises producing or licensing live entertainment events that reach a global annual audience of more than 20 million people in more than 40 countries, and the Disney Music Group distributes original music and motion picture soundtracks under its four record labels: Walt Disney Records, Buena Vista Records, Hollywood Records and Lyric Street Records.
Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. (AccessIT) is the global leader in providing integrated solutions for digital cinema. The Company's ground- breaking digital cinema networked services along with its Library Management Server(TM) and Theatre Command Center(TM) have enabled theatres across the United States to play more than five million digital 2-D and 3-D showings of Hollywood features to date. AccessIT's comprehensive vendor neutral solutions provide pre-show entertainment, feature movies and live and pre-recorded alternative content via satellite to expand box office sales and develop new ways to attract incremental revenues. Through its alternative content distribution division, The Bigger Picture, AccessIT offers channels of programming including Opera, Kidtoons, Faith Based, Music, High Octane Sports and Anime. Access Integrated Technologies(R) and AccessIT(TM) are trademarks of Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. For more information on AccessIT, visit http://www.accessitx.com/. [AIXD-G] Contacts:
Suzanne Moore
AccessIT
973.290.0080
Heidi Trotta
The Walt Disney Studios
818.560.7280
DATASOURCE: Access Integrated Technologies, Inc.
CONTACT: Suzanne Moore of AccessIT, +1-973-290-0080, ; or Heidi Trotta of The Walt Disney Studios, +1-818-560-7280, Web site: http://www.accessitx.com/
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