Belgian exhibitor Kinepolis is planning the first full nationwide digital conversion of a theatre network in Europe. Its 130 cinemas will be fitted with digital Barco projectors through a new deal Kinepolis struck with Thomson's Technicolor Digital Cinema.

Technicolor will install the Barco 2K projectors, with about half of the 130 screens - including a new eight-screen complex in Bruges - to be fitted by early 2007. The rest of the cinemas will follow by the end of 2007.

Kinepolis already has 21 theatres with Barco digital projectors.

"Equipping every theatre in Belgium with a digital cinema projector, expresses the vision and leadership of Kinepolis," said Joe Berchtold, president of Technicolor Theatrical Services, and head of Technicolor Digital Cinema. "We are delighted to partner with Kinepolis Group in what is indeed an important step in the global digital cinema history."