Digitizing the multiplex

For two days in mid-August, film projectors in more than 50 theaters around the United States shut down, and a live version of jam band Phish's farewell performance in Vermont took over the big screen. ¶ This unconventional movie-hall moment was made possible by Regal Entertainment Group's state-of-the-art digital network, which is at the forefront of a move to replace the whirring, old 35mm film projectors with high-tech digital projection systems. ¶ Regal doesn't show full movies in digital format yet, a move deeply desired by big movie studios that believe phasing out film will save them millions in distribution costs. Now recent breakthroughs in technology standards have brought this transformation within shouting distance, and some Hollywood optimists say the digital transition could get under way in earnest as soon as early next year. ... ZDNet link