Paris, France (February 12, 2010) SmartJog, a digital delivery service provider, and Ymagis, a digital cinema deployment company, announced today, that they have signed a non-exclusive partnership agreement. Under the terms of this agreement, SmartJog and Ymagis have agreed to integrate their technologies to offer a full digital cinema solution to Ymagis cinema operator clients.
Ymagis will facilitate the deployment of the SmartJog solution for the digital delivery of the DCPs (Digital Cinema Packages) to theatres using the Ymagis Cinema Central Server, which is supplied to each of the cinemas under contract with Ymagis. In the first phase, operators will be able to equip their cinema with a SmartJog Gateway integrated with their Ymagis Central Server. In the next phase, Ymagis and SmartJog plan to install the SmartJog software solutions directly onto the Ymagis Cinema Central Server so that the latter can also serve as a reception Gateway. Exhibitors will benefit from efficient use of equipment space and efficiency of workflows. Ymagis clients will have access to SmartJog digital delivery services similar to what they currently have with the Ymaginet service. The integration will be completely transparent, using the tools available on the Ymagis Central Server.
The two companies may use each other’s delivery network. In particular, the Ymagis mastering facility will be able to deliver DCPs to cinemas connected to the SmartJog network. Initially, the implementation will begin with the French market, and next, the plan is to rapidly extend their services to all countries in which they have a presence. The two complementary services allow distributors and exhibitors to benefit from an integrated and complete solution for content distribution and reception.
SmartJog
SmartJog, a TDF subsidiary and the global leader in digital delivery with presence in 65 countries, offers a fully managed distribution and file transfer platform for the secure, fast, and reliable digital delivery of content. SmartJog is the trusted partner for the global exchange of all the Hollywood Studios' most critical content. SmartJog's digital cinema solutions provide a centralized place for clients' digital cinema needs, including distribution, localization, storage, and asset management of digital cinema packages. The SmartJog technology and satellite platform is at the core of TDF's digital cinema strategy and SmartJog works closely with the other TDF's subsidiaries to expand the service to 9 other European countries. SmartJog currently has over 145 cinema sites and more than 600 digital screens connected in Europe.
Ymagis
Created in 2007 by cinema and high-technology professionals, YMAGIS develops technical and financial services designed to facilitate the transition to digital technology by European operators. After having received the support of five American distributors (Paramount, Disney, Fox, Universal, Sony), the French distributor Mk2 and the French advertising agency Censier Publicinex, which has agreed to contribute financially towards fitting out the cinemas under contract with YMAGIS, the company signed contracts with more than forty operators representing more than 500 screens in France, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg and Germany. Ymagis is also in negotiations with other French, European and American distributors as well as advertising agencies, and hopes to soon announce contribution agreements with several of them. Furthermore, YMAGIS has established a digital laboratory dedicated to allowing a growing number of producers and distributors to access technologies related to the digital distribution of content. Finally, Ymagis operates various value-added services in the digital cinema sector, including, in particular, Ymaginet, the electronic delivery service of DCP to cinemas, and 3Delux, the on-site rental service of 3D active glasses.