Christie Managed Services Extends Projector Services to In-Lobby Digital Signage Support; Rave Motion Pictures Signs On

Online, March 31, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Rave Motion Pictures, the fifth largest chain of movie theaters in the United States, has more time to focus on innovation in cinema technology, optimizing seating plans and other operational aspects, resulting from a services alliance with Christie Managed Services (CMS). A longtime user of Christie projectors, Rave is now entrusting CMS to service its entire Lobby Entertainment Network (LEN).

"As a large and decentralized operation, we were having a hard time finding a good outsourced provider for our digital signage needs," said Brad Wardlow, vice president of operations for Rave Motion Pictures. "We have 61 locations in 21 states, and all too often outages resulted in inoperable displays in the common areas of our lobby and concession spaces, with the resultant repairs being expensive and taking a long time to complete. We needed find a worry-free solution so we could concentrate on our business, which is to deliver a total theater experience to our movie-patron customers."

In addition to movie projectors, Rave provides a Lobby Entertainment Network (LEN) air show display over concession areas, more than 500 digital menu boards, LED way-finder signage, and extensive LED signage in its box offices. A previous provider had often used distant, non-local technicians, causing high travel and accommodation costs and longer time frames to service and support these products. In contrast, CMS created a one-stop, manageable strategy that addresses ongoing preventive maintenance as well as immediate attention to any problems.

"This solution makes total sense for us operationally, financially and aesthetically," said Wardlow. "The only question we have been asking ourselves is 'why did we take so long to make the decision?' We're getting faster service, more preventative/proactive management of our signage program, and all at lower costs."

"Christie and Rave collaborated to identify sites, create inventories of assets and to develop a more planned, life-cycle approach to managing these assets, versus a reactive approach to emergencies," said Sean James, vice president, Christie Managed Services. "The CMS approach is to provide a support strategy which minimizes the amount of down time and expense associated with deploying the technology cinema owners want to use. By leveraging our technology and national networks of people and parts, we are able to significantly improve the availability of displays and projection systems.

With expertise developed over 80 years serving the cinema industry, Christie Managed Services works with each customer to deploy, monitor and support their commercial displays. Christie's U.S. Network Operation Center (NOC) offers 24/7/365 monitoring, technical help desk and configuration management and preventive servicing as well as on-site emergency response. The program serves hundreds of organizations in the cinema and other industries.

About Rave Motion Pictures
Rave Motion Pictures is the fifth largest U.S. domestic circuit by box office gross and number of screens. Since its founding by Thomas W. Stephenson, Jr. in 1999, Rave Motion Pictures has been dedicated to enriching the movie-going experience for audiences across the country. Rave Motion Pictures has set the industry standard for customer service and comfort and is a pioneer in the adoption of current digital and 3-D technology and a leader in alternative content programming from live sports to concerts to opera. For more information, visit http://www.ravemotionpictures.com.

About Christie®
Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ushio, Inc., Japan, (JP: 6925), is a leader in visual solutions for world-class organizations, offering diverse applications for business, entertainment, and industry. A leading innovator in film projection since 1929 and a pioneer in digital projection systems since 1979, Christie® has established a global reputation as a total service provider and the world's single source manufacturer of a variety of display technologies and solutions. With the acquisition of Vista Controls Systems, Corp., Christie offers the most complete and advanced solutions for cinema, live venues, control rooms, business presentations, training facilities, 3D and Virtual Reality, simulation and education as well as industrial and government environments. For more information, visit http://www.christiedigital.com.

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For more information contact:

David Paolini, Christie
(519) 749-3127
[email protected]

Mario Almonte, Herman & Almonte Public Relations
(212) 616-1190, ext. 267