Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Issues/Experience with Deluxe or Technicolor satillite distribution

This is topic Issues/Experience with Deluxe or Technicolor satillite distribution in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 08-17-2013, 07:46 PM:

For about a year, we have been receiving the majority of our content (trailers and features) from Deluxe and Technicolor via satellite. For the most part this has been a very positive experience.

The content usually shows up 4-5 days prior to the release for most movies and we receive all formats for each feature (5.1/7.1 3D 3.5-4FL & 6.5FL, OCAP, CCAP, etc) - in some cases as many as 16 different CPLs for a given picture. Since the projectionist letters are usually available on the Deluxe and Technicolor Digital Cinema Portals about the same time, I am able to start building playlists much sooner than if I received hard drives.

I have had a few issues. Besides the fact Sony seems to forgo satellite distribution, we have been having difficulty getting both Deluxe and Technicolor to check for satellite content before sending a hard drive when we open a movie late - or if the booking is made at the last minute.

My understanding is most content is kept on the servers for up to 4 weeks after the satellite transmission. In most cases I can call Deluxe or Technicolor and get them to push the satellite content to my LMS, even if they have already shipped a hard drive. But the people at Deluxe make this a difficult process. I don't know if the people who answer the phones just don't know how the system works, but they always give me a run around about how satellite delivery is not possible if we were not booked at the time of the initial transmission.

On a different subject. Because our drive-in is now digital, we are attempting to get both Technicolor and Deluxe to use the same satellite server to distribute content to our drive-in. With Technicolor films, I just take out the portable TML drive and ingest the content at my drive-in if I think we'll play it. Unfortunately the Deluxe server doesn't have this portable drive, and it's been impossible to get in touch with someone in their satellite department to talk about adding one.

Posted by Marco Giustini (Member # 4544) on 08-18-2013, 04:05 AM:

I have seen companies just opening an FTP server on the satellite receiver. At that point you only need to setup an FTP source on your server and pull the content you need. This is now the preferred solution for some providers, since D-Cinema servers have limited space and you may not want ALL the CPLs transferred on your machine. If you can pull what you need, you'll save some space.

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 08-18-2013, 12:38 PM:

About Six Months ago I signed up a few theatres for Deluxe's Satellite distribution. We have been told that we are "on the list".

I was also told that it is Technicolor and Deluxe's goal to work together on a system for content distribution. They are hoping to have a system in place within 2 years. Eventually they hope to go to Satellite delivery for ALL theatres in the U.S.

Posted by Trenton Thompson (Member # 7103) on 08-18-2013, 08:18 PM:

I have called multiple times trying to get them to answer my phone calls. Neither one will reply to them. Does anyone know a way to get them to return the phone calls? The satellite would take care of our indoor theatre as well as our drive in. We'd just need one server system because of the fiber line between our locations...If you guys have any advice I thank you in advance!

Posted by Ronda Fitzsimmons (Member # 1418) on 08-26-2013, 12:44 PM:

We haven't been able to get through to anyone either. We're extra interested in my sister's NY cinema, since the sales tax ruling there will exclude sales tax on film rentals delivered wholly electronically. For now anyway.