Kodak HD Pre-show systems to feature SRS Circle Surround

SRS Labs announced that Kodak Digital Cinema has selected SRS Circle Surround for their digital cinema pre-show high definition systems. Kodak is currently the world's leading independent supplier of digital pre-show solutions, supplying more than a dozen exhibition chains in the US, Canada, and Japan. Digital cinema pre-show packages encoded and delivered in SRS Circle Surround will begin with an animated SRS logo/trailer, expanding SRS Labs brand reach from television, radio, and millions of consumer electronics products into theaters.

"We are tapping into the very beginning of what is inevitably going to be a huge trend in the motion picture industry," said Michael Canevaro, senior director, professional audio at SRS Labs. "To date, there are approximately 97,000 screens available worldwide, which is an incredible number of potential brand impressions for this marketplace. Working with Kodak Digital Cinema creates a clear path for SRS to enter the digital cinema pre-show market, enabling a broader consumer audience to benefit from our innovative sound technologies."

SRS Labs first began working with Kodak earlier this year, when both companies collaborated on a demonstration of the Kodak Digital Cinema HD Pre-Show using SRS Circle Surround at the Kodak-sponsored ShoWest Showcase, "An Evening of Independent Film."

"A great movie experience requires great images and great sound," says Drena Rogers, worldwide director of sales for Kodak Digital Cinema, "and that's as true for the pre-show as it is for the feature presentation. The state-of-the-art audio that SRS delivers contributes to the power, the enjoyment, and the emotional impact of the program before the feature movie begins."

SRS Circle Surround encoding delivers full-bandwidth surround sound content for up to 7.1 channels over any stereo transmission path. The resulting composite two-channel mix is backward compatible with mono, stereo, and LCRS playback. When decoded with Circle Surround II, the listener experiences up to 7.1 surround playback true to the original mix. To date, over 1 billion television viewers have experienced Circle Surround.

Broadcasters and professional audio mixers have chosen the technology for its flexibility, ease-of-use, and overall audio performance. Top radio and television broadcasters around the world who have created programming using Circle Surround include ABC, CBS, CBN, NBC, ESPN, ESPN HD, FOX, MBS (Japan), GAORA (Japan), FM Tokyo (Japan), Swedish Television (Sweden), Guang Dong Radio (China), CNR (China) and many others.