AMC Entertainment going all-digital

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- AMC Entertainment Inc., the nation's second-largest movie theater chain, plans to switch more than 4,500 screens to digital, high-definition projectors.

The Kansas City-based company said Monday that Sony Electronics will install 4K digital cinema projection systems throughout its 309 theaters. The work will begin in the second quarter of this year and be completed in 2012.

AMC already uses digital projectors in 11 theaters and 150 screens.

The equipment is being financed through Digital Cinema Implementation Partners LLC, a joint operation between AMC, Cinemark USA and Regal Entertainment Group focused on accelerating the switch of U.S. theaters to digital equipment.

The film industry is backing digital projectors as dramatically improving picture and sound quality while replacing the cost of shipping film reels as movies can be distributed electronically.