Get ready next week for a dramatic new level in the theatre-going entertainment experience in St. Clairsville, OH
Carmike Cinemas, Inc. (NASDAQ: CKEC), a leading DIGITAL cinema and 3D motion picture exhibitor, is announcing the December 15th unveiling of the "BIGD" auditorium at St. Clairsville's Ohio Valley Mall. "We're providing the ultimate entertainment experience that centerpieces large format DIGITAL with bigger screens, bigger and better sound, and the finest in-theater seating for cutting edge presentation and the definitive enjoyment of our audiences," notes David Passman, Carmike's President and CEO.
With the St. Clairsville opening, this area is one of the first in the nation to offer theatregoers the exciting new "BIGD" format recently launched by Carmike Cinemas, an industry leader in DIGITAL projection and 3D technology since 2006. A special gala premiere opening evening will take place on December 15th at 7 PM honoring our community heroes, the police, firefighters, sheriffs, highway patrol and EMS professionals that risk their lives on a regular basis to serve the community. Carmike will treat all guests to a premiere showing of one of the top new holiday films from Paramount Pictures, "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol." Starring Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and Paula Patton, and directed by Brad Bird, the movie will premiere in the "BIGD" auditorium on Thursday evening. The official nationwide opening in select theatres is slated for 12:01 AM on Friday, December 16th.
Named "BIGD," the new auditorium will include a wall-to-wall screen measuring 60 feet wide and nearly three stories tall, the latest in 7.1 surround sound and DIGITAL projection of both 2D and 3D features. In technical terms, Carmike's "BIGD" DIGITAL experience is powered by a cutting edge Christie Brilliant 3-D flash projector. Images are projected onto a colossal wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor screen. The end result is a light output of 30,000 lumens, creating a picture quality with noticeably higher resolution than HD.
To further enhance the experience, the custom QSC DIGITAL audio system is tuned to a 7.1 speaker array with 16 channels and the ability to upgrade to 11.1, a revolution in surround sound technology with DIGITAL audio processing supported by quad-amplified, 4-way speakers and six 21-inch subwoofers. The new, expanded configuration at the St. Clairsville Carmike Ohio Valley Mall 11 promises a new gold standard in unparalleled picture clarity and deep resonating DIGITAL sound.
"The success of 3-D releases for features like 'Avatar,' 'Cars 2,' 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon,' and the record-breaking re-launch of 'The Lion King in 3D,' proves that audiences are excited about and enjoy the new DIGITAL experience, and are demanding it," notes David Passman. "These early successes will no doubt persuade producers to release more movies in this format, and with the 'BIGD' experience – in either 3-D or 2-D DIGITAL – Carmike has the full capability to provide our audiences with the technology and total luxury that brings theatre-going to a new level."
Plans for the "BIGD" Experience will include more locations in 2012 including Minneapolis, MN, Winder, GA, Maryville and Cleveland, TN, Jacksonville and Wilmington, NC, Sandestin, FL, Winchester, VA, Loganville, GA and Decatur, AL. "Whether it is a movie, concert, sporting event, motivational speaker or church service, Carmike guests will find "BIGD" placing them at the heart of the event," notes Terrell Mayton, Carmike's Director of Marketing.
About Carmike Cinemas (NASDAQ: CKEC) -www.carmike.com
Carmike Cinemas, Inc. is a U.S. leader in digital cinema and 3-D cinema deployments and one of the nation's largest motion picture exhibitors. As of September 30, 2011 Carmike had 235 theatres with 2,215 screens in 36 states. Carmike's digital cinema footprint reached 2,089 screens, including 208 theatres with 726 screens that are also equipped for 3-D. Carmike's focus for its theatre locations is small to mid-sized communities.
Contacts:
Carmike Cinemas, Inc.
Terrell Mayton, 706.576.3464
Director
of Marketing
