European digital-cinema leader Arts Alliance Media (AAM) has partnered with Hoyts Cinemas, Australia’s leading cinema chain, to roll out AAM’s Theatre Management System (TMS) across the entire Hoyts circuit in both Australia and New Zealand.

Hoyts Cinemas, which has over 400 screens across the two countries, will equip all digital screens with AAM’s proprietary software, custom-designed to manage digital-cinema operations. Hoyts is rolling out digital cinema across its entire circuit as part of the Digital Cinema Implementation Partners Australia (DCIPA) group.

AAM will be working closely with Hoyts to further develop its software, calling on Hoyts’ experience in cinema-advertising services (via its sister company Val Morgan) and cinema operations.

The agreement is the first that Arts Alliance Media has completed for a cinema outside those it has equipped as part of its own digital-cinema rollout. It is also the first deal of its kind where a major exhibitor has committed to a TMS solution that is independent from the equipment selection and the integration company involved.

Adam Wrightson, Hoyts group technology director, said, “After reviewing all the products in the marketplace, we found the AAM TMS to be the most flexible and the most suited to our needs. As we continue to expand our digital-cinema platform, we see AAM as a strategic partner to achieving our goals moving forward.”

Fiona Deans, chief operating officer of AAM, stated, “Although our rollout business is focused in Europe, our content and software businesses are worldwide. We see Hoyts Cinemas as a key customer adding to our worldwide portfolio. Their operational and technical expertise is second to none around the globe, making Hoyts a very welcomed client.”

Arts Alliance Media’s TMS is part of a software suite designed to manage all aspects of digital-cinema content and playback in a cinema from a single location. The AAM TMS is currently being rolled out across AAM’s VPF-signed screens with Cineworld and Yelmo, a total of over 1,100 screens. More information on TMS can be seen at www.tms.artsalliancemedia.com.