Prakash Jha's Aarakshan in 672 UFO Digital Theatres

Online, August 17, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Regardless of the bans (the film is not being screened in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh), ace producer-director Prakash Jha's multi-starrer blockbuster film 'Aarakshan' will screen on 672 UFO digital theatres across India for the week of August 12-18, 2011.

UFO Moviez, the world's single largest networked digital cinema platform, has revolutionized the way films are distributed and exhibited throughout India. The advantage offered by UFO Moviez' digital cinema solutions lies in the fact that theatres are able to quickly source and screen alternative content in situations that call for flexibility in content and quick turnaround time. This serves as a win-win situation for all involved in the film distribution-exhibition chain.

Incidentally, Prakash Jha's 'Apaharan' was one of the early films on the UFO digital theatre network. 'Apaharan' released in 62 UFO digital theatres in its first week. With 'Aarakshan' releasing in 672 UFO theatres, the increase is 10 times vis-a-vis 'Apaharan'.

In terms of other Hindi films, 'Phhir' screens on 225 UFO Digital Theatres across India during the week of August 12-18, 2011. Ajay Devgn starrer 'Singham' screens on 215 UFO Digital cinemas across India during the week of August 12-18, 2011 in its fourth week. 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' screens on 57 UFO Digital Cinemas across India and blockbuster hit 'Murder 2' continues screens on 22 UFO Digital Cinemas.

In terms of non-Hindi films, Telugu Film 'Dhada', which released on August 11, 2011, screens on 98 UFO Digital Theatres during the week of August 12-18, 2011. Tamil film 'Kanchana', which released July 22, screens on 87 UFO digital theatres. Telugu film 'Kandireega', which released on August 12, screens on 74 UFO digital theatres. Tamil film 'Rowthiram', which released on August 12, 2011, screens on 71 UFO digital theatres. Mahesh Manjrekar's Marathi film, 'Faqta Ladh Mhana', which released on August 5, 2011, screens on 51 UFO digital theatres.

Source: www.ufomoviez.com

Presently, UFO has a base of close to 2500 digital screens, spread across more than 1300 cities in 26 states of India. Out of these 2500 screens, around 350 screens are in multiplexes (which constitutes over 30% of the multiplex population in the country) and the balance are single screen theatres. The total capacity of these screens is over 1.3 million seats. UFO has so far released more than 3500 films in 29 languages and has conducted more than 7.5 million shows.

UFO Moviez India Limited (UFO) is the pioneer in the Digital Cinema space in India. UFO was founded by Valuable Group in 2005. Leading Indian industrial house Apollo Tyres Group and international PE investors 3i UK and Providence Equity Partners have made investments in UFO.

In a short span of time, UFO has established a very robust network of cinema screens across India and Nepal. With its unique satellite based delivery and most advanced MPEG4 technology, UFO is the market leader in the Digital Cinema space in India.

UFO has significantly contributed to the expansion of the Indian film industry through wide spread day one releases of films across geographies. UFO's present base with satellite based delivery allows the industry to have a much wider release than has been possible through the traditional print medium. The Digital Cinema System provided by UFO is very cost effective and with zero compromise in quality, reliability and security. UFO has successfully demonstrated its technical capabilities by bringing cricket matches of Indian Premier League 2010 (IPL), live to 800 screens in high definition thus providing an option of alternate content to the exhibitors for the first time in India.

UFO has achieved a major technological break-through in the field of 3D. It has indigenously developed a very cost effective technology to convert existing 2D screens into 3D screens. The technology was successfully tested during IPL 2010 and the last four matches were brought live in 3D with exceptional results. With its unique business model wherein the theatre owners are not required to make any investment in the equipment, UFO expects to install 1250 3D screens on its network over the next two years, up from the present 100 3D screens.

Additionally, UFO also markets a unique Ticketing cum Settlement Platform for the entertainment industry called IMPACT. This is a Valuable Technologies initiative to bring transparency, efficiency and accountability in the Media and Entertainment business. The back-end software and infrastructure for Impact has already been developed and deployed along with the online computerized ticket system in more than 200 screens across the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat in India. IMPACT also provides all the stakeholders registered on the IMPACT Exchange with an easy to use but secure web-based portal that can be used as the interface for commerce. In future, IMPACT will handle & guarantee settlements to each stakeholder in addition to providing a common system to be used by the entire value chain.

UFO has recently acquired a strategic stake in Scrabble Entertainment Pvt Limited (Scrabble). Scrabble is the sole aggregator of DCI compliant screens in India and already has more than 280 DCI screens. Scrabble has very recently signed contracts with Hollywood Studios for expansion of its activities in Middle East countries as well. With the strategic investment in Scrabble, UFO is now in a position to provide a complete offering i.e. both DCI as well as non DCI systems for its international forays. UFO is already present in Nepal and is actively looking at markets like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Middle East countries and Latin American and East European regions among others for both DCI and Non DCI rollout.

Awards and Recognitions
Deloitte fastest growing 50 companies in TMT (Technology, Media and Telecom) space - UFO Moviez was declared the 14th fastest growing company in the TMT space with 278% growth rate in 2010.
Global Entrepolis @ Singapore Award - UFO Moviez was acknowledged as 'Technopreneur of the Year' in the Asia-Pacific region for 2007 at the Global Entrepolis @ Singapore Award.
International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Award - UFO Moviez was presented the prestigious IIFA Award for the 'Biggest Innovation in the Film Industry' at the 8th International Indian Film Academy Awards held at Yorkshire, England in 2007.

For more information
Janki Trivedi, Adfactors PR, 09820080835