The end of film? Hollywood agrees on digital standard

Spools of film look like becoming historical artifacts after the major Hollywood studios agreed on a new standard for digital cinemas, according to news reports.

The agreement covers the design and function of digital projectors in which movies are stored as huge computer files and are screened and distributed by computers.

The deal does not cover who will cover the purchase of the new projectors, which cost between 60,000 dollars and 100,000 dollars each. Cinema companies say the costs should be covered by distributors who will save 75% of the cost of distributing each film by sending them over satellite or fibre optic cable instead of by truck. (dpa)