The United Stated-based film firm--Warner Brothers Inc. plans to build a digital cinema in Beijing in June next year, the first of its kind in the capital city.

 

Warner Brothers has unveiled its future plan to expand business in China in Shanghai, a remarkable step to great China's centennial anniversary for the firm industry in 2005. Under the new plan, the US film giant plans to increase its digital projection halls in China to 170 by the end of 2007.

 

As China opened its digital cinema market to overseas investors in July this year, Warner Brothers accelerated its steps to open more digital cinemas in China.

 

In June 2006, Warner Brothers will open a high-standard digital cinema in Beijing, the Beijing News quoted a senior official with the Warner Brothers as saying on Saturday.

 

The new cinema, to be located in Beijing's "silica valley" -- the Zhongguancun district, will have seven digital projection halls with 1,100 seats, said the official.

 

According to the official, the new cinema in Beijing was jointly invested by Warner Brothers and the Guangzhou-Based Quanyi firm company.

 

Currently, Warner Brothers has opened eight digital cinemas in major Chinese cities like Shanghai and Nanjing.

 

The newspaper reported that more major Chinese cities including Chongqing, Changsha, Beijing, Nanchang, Xiamen and Shenzhen have been listed on Warner Brothers's agenda to open digital cinemas in 2006.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 26, 2005)