WORLD THEATRE, INC. GRANTED BROAD PATENT GOVERNING DISTRIBUTION, SCHEDULING AND PROJECTION OF DIGITAL MOVIES AND ALTERNATIVE CONTENT TO DIGITAL CINEMAS AND ELECTRONIC BILLBOARDS.
New York, NY - August 21, 2002 - In a move further establishing the inevitable transition from 35-millimeter film to digital format, World Theatre, Inc. has been granted United States Patent Number 6,424,998 entitled "System permitting the display of video or still image content on selected displays of an electronic display network according to customer dictates". The new patent is directed to systems and methods for distributing and scheduling digital movie content to cinemas as well as distributing sporting events, concerts and other types of alternative content including advertising. The patent also addresses systems and methods of directly controlling networks of electronic displays (electronic billboards) and directly sending video or still image content to these networks to be displayed at selected locations and times.
Announcing the issuance of the patent Robert D. Summer, executive chairman and CEO of World Theatre, Inc. noted, "This U.S. patent for the systems and methods of distributing digital content to both cinemas and electronic billboards further enhances the value of World Theatre's intellectual property assets and portfolio of patents as developed by the company founder C. Eric Hunter. The issuance of this patent by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office also establishes the platform for additional patents we now have pending in the Digital Music, Interactive Advertising, Digital Film and Electronic Billboard Network sectors. The systems and methods addressed by the patent represent the culmination of a carefully developed and documented invention process." Further describing the scope and breadth of the patent Summer added, "The patent has been filed globally through national filings and is the first of many patents that address systems and methods for the secure distribution of digital entertainment and advertising.
Film Industry Background
For virtually the entire twentieth century the practice of distributing movies on film reels to movie theatres has gone fundamentally unchanged. The evolution of digital film has altered the entire landscape of the film industry. The "rules of the road" for content access and management for cinema owners and operators have in effect been rewritten in the digital era. The ability to distribute and schedule content via more efficient, timely technologies including high speed cable and satellite as well as through physical delivery of digitally stored content via optical disks, hard drive, flash and other means will enable the industry to create new profitable opportunities.
Cinema operators can vary schedules and change programming on an hour by hour/minute by minute basis, display alternate content and create additional sources of revenue through the exhibition of concerts and sports events in addition to movies. At the same time they are able to expand offerings to advertisers looking to target specific audiences with digital ads in defined time segments in conjunction with specific movies, concerts or sports events. For film distributors it has been estimated that digital projection could slash the $1.6 billion spent annually on printing and distributing film as well as greatly enhanced quality and security.
Advertising - Electronic Billboard Applications
Commenting on the significance of the patent for the advertising industry Kelly Sparks, president and chief operating officer of World Theatre, Inc. noted, "The networking and scheduling capabilities provided by the combination of technologies addressed in this patent will provide advertisers the flexibility and management control to maximize the value of their outdoor and public venue advertising programs. Targeted, time sensitive advertising will drive response to differentiated messages."
Electronic Billboard - Advertising Background
The time honored outdoor advertising technique of painting or applying printed sheets to outdoor billboards has also remained essentially unchanged throughout the twentieth century. The advanced scheduling of electronic billboards enables advertisers to efficiently use their budgets to more effectively reach specific geographic and demographic targets with compelling, illuminated, still or moving images.
About World Theatre, Inc.
World Theatre, Inc. is a privately held corporation founded in 1999 to create media and technology solutions that serve the advertising and entertainment industries. Its solutions eliminate the time between promotion, purchase and delivery allowing consumers immediate access to high quality digital entertainment, advertising and commerce. World Theatre's intellectual property assets include a significant portfolio of issued patents and pending applications addressing key technologies governing the management, distribution and protection of content for the advertising and entertainment industries as well as interactive technologies which allow products to be offered to consumers in ways unmatched by competing technologies. The company is headquartered in Raleigh, NC with offices in New York.
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