XDC, the leading pan-European digital-cinema service company, and ZON Lusomundo, the largest cinema chain in Portugal, signed an exclusive agreement for the deployment of digital-cinema systems in 180 of ZON Lusomundo’s cinema screens in Portugal.

The rollout of DCI-compliant projection systems, co-financed by the Virtual Print Fee (VPF) model, is scheduled to begin in January 2009 with an initial commitment of 100 screens throughout the rest of the year.

Tomás Gonçalves, CEO of ZON Lusomundo, stated, “With this investment, we will be among the most innovative cinema operators in the world, and a landmark in the development of European exhibition standards. Not only will we be offering our spectators outstanding picture and sound quality, we will also be able to extend our programming to alternative content at all of our theatres with more recorded and live 3D shows, and live satellite events such as opera, concerts and sports.”

Serge Plasch, XDC’s chief executive officer said that his company expects to announce additional deployment deals in other countries soon, with the goal of 1,000 installed digital screens across Europe before the end of 2009.

XDC will exclusively install Barco 2K Cinema projectors and XDC’s CineStore Solo G3 D-Cinema servers at ZON Lusomundo theatres. XDC will also implement a fully integrated and networked solution in each complex through its advanced Theatre Management System and Central Library, the XDC’s CineStore Plaza.