Leading Italian cinema chain The Space Cinema and Arts Alliance Media (AAM) signed an exclusive virtual-print-fee-based agreement under which AAM will supply and integrate digital-cinema projection systems across The Space’s 24 sites in Italy. In addition, AAM will be providing satellite systems on a nonexclusive basis for each of the cinemas, in collaboration with its partner Arqiva Satellite & Media.

The first deployed digital screens will be operational before Christmas, in time for the holiday releases, so as to have at least one screen installed in each cinema, with a rollout of an additional 50 screens within the first quarter 2010. The Space Cinema will be installing 3D systems in all its digital screens.

The satellite systems will allow The Space Cinema to show live alternative events such as concerts and sports, as well as receive feature and trailer content electronically via satellite instead of on hard drives physically distributed to cinemas.

In addition to digital-cinema projectors and servers, AAM will also be supplying The Space Cinema with its recently launched Digital Cinema Network Software package, including AAM’s Theatre Management System, allowing The Space Cinema control and reporting of equipment and content across the entire circuit.

Giuseppe Corrado, CEO of The Space Cinema, stated, “We’re excited by the opportunities this agreement with AAM is creating for our circuit and for the whole industry in Italy. We see a wealth of new content and new entertainment opportunities for our customers coming with digitalization.”

Commenting on his first Italian exhibition partner, Howard Kiedaisch, CEO of AAM, called The Space Cinema “an exciting new circuit.” He also noted, “Any interested Italian exhibitor will now be able to start a relationship with us, knowing that agreements with five Hollywood majors are already in full effect in Italy. With this agreement, AAM will have a footprint in six countries across Europe—U.K., France, Norway, Spain, The Netherlands and Italy.”