After a year of testing at a handful of its cinemas, the Regal Entertainment Group has formalised an agreement to install Sony’s Entertainment Access Glasses in each of its locations, in line with the chain’s move to digital projection.
As reported in May last year, Regal has undertaken a nationwide rollout of accessible cinema which is expected to be completed by early 2013. The rollout of personal access devices will see closed captions, audio description and an enhanced soundtrack all delivered for 2D, 3D and IMAX movies where access files are provided. Until now, Regal had not announced a preferred system.
Amy Miles, CEO of Regal Entertainment Group, commented on the culmination of years of work towards the milestone. "By incorporating this technology into the Regal theatre experience, we're giving deaf, hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired customers a more convenient and natural way to enjoy the movies.” Boxoffice.com reports in depth on Regal’s adoption of the Sony glasses.
Regal’s locations in Fresno County, California have already started using the glasses. A local cinema patron, David Douglas, commented on his first experience of using the glasses in the Fresno Bee, simply stating, “I love it.”
Regal Entertainment Group’s announcement coincides with Sony’s worldwide launch of the glasses at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas last week.
The Sony Entertainment Access Glasses are yet to be showcased in Australia but are available to our cinemas. With a number of market-ready products now available, Australia’s independent cinemas, which represent 38% of Australia’s movie screens and are yet to announce a digital accessible cinema program, have a wider range to choose from should they decide to investigate options.
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