News.blog: Digital film distribution in the limelight

The clacking sound of celluloid scrolling through a film projector may be closer to becoming a thing of the past.

A conglomeration of movie studios and cinema owners has formed a venture to examine the best ways to transfer digital content to cinemas.

Warner Bros. Entertainment, Universal Pictures and Digital Cinema Implementation Partners announced on Tuesday they are planning to study the pros and cons of delivering digital movies via broadband and satellite.

Spurring the movie business on is a long-term effort to cut the costs of film distribution. An enhanced distribution method may also reduce piracy, the companies said in a statement.

For decades, studios have shipped film prints by to cinemas by truck. For the relatively few cinemas equipped with digital projectors, Hollywood sends hard drives. In the digital age, some in Hollywood see an opportunity to revamp film distribution.

"This system will provide theater owners with greater scheduling flexibility as it allows for real-time bookings to meet audience demands," said DCIP CEO Travis Reid.