Over half the screens in Europe are now digital

A new report published by the European Audiovisual Observatory and Media Salles shows that around 18,500 digital screens had been installed in Europe by the end of 2011. This means that over 52% of European screens are now capable of digital projection, up from just 4% three years ago.

While the initial phase of large-scale digital conversion during 2009 and 2010 had been more or less entirely driven by 3D installations, roll-out in 2011 was – for the first time – driven by 2D screens. This suggests that the roll-out has entered its second major phase and is now driven primarily by full conversions of larger circuits under virtual print fee (VPF) schemes and by public initiatives ranging from legislation (France), publicly-funded industry-wide conversion schemes (Norway and the Netherlands) to direct public funding schemes, 60 of which have been identified in the report at national, sub-national and pan-European level, including the recent MEDIA Digitisation of Cinemas scheme.

For full details of the report see the European Audiovisual Observatory website.

Publication date: 30 Jan 2012