Ballantyne Expands Digital Cinema Offerings with Addition of Barco Projection Systems

Companies to Jointly Market Digital Cinema Products at Next Week’s ShowEast 2011 Cinema Industry Tradeshow at Diplomat Hotel in Miami/Hollywood, FL From Booth#403

ShowEast 2011

MIAMI & KORTRIJK, Belgium & OMAHA, Neb.--()--Ballantyne Strong, Inc. (NYSE Amex: BTN), a provider of digital cinema projection equipment and services, cinema screens and other cinema products, today announced that effective immediately, it has entered into a definitive reseller agreement with Barco (NYSE Euronext Brussels: BAR), to distribute their full line of digital cinema products, with expectations of adding additional Barco lines as they become available. Ballantyne will be marketing Barco offerings in the Americas (North, Central and South) and the Caribbean.

“Ballantyne Strong has been a key leader in cinema products and solutions for eight decades and we are happy to welcome Ballantyne to our team. They bring a wealth of worldwide exhibitor relationships as well as additional product and service offerings that Barco is looking to leverage on behalf of our valued customers as we focus on further expanding our organization’s global footprint,” stated Patrick Lee, VP Digital Cinema for Barco North America.

“With the ShowEast cinema industry tradeshow being attended by exhibitors from around the world, we agreed that this was an ideal time to launch what we expect to be a long-term and mutually beneficial partnership with Ballantyne,” added Mr. Lee.

Ballantyne Strong President and CEO Gary L. Cavey stated, “We are ready to hit-the-ground-running with Barco after signing this important new distribution agreement that complements our long-term relationship with NEC’s digital cinema group. With Barco’s full complement of projectors now at our disposal, including the brightest projector in the world, our customers will have more choices than ever and our turnkey cinema solutions will clearly be a key differentiator for Ballantyne.

“In addition to projection systems, Ballantyne will continue to provide our large base of shared customers manufactured cinema screens as well as after-care projection system service and maintenance. We will also maintain our focus on offering both large and small exhibitors the widest array of one-stop options available in the cinema space,” concluded Mr. Cavey.

About Barco (www.barco.com)

Barco, a global technology company, designs and develops visualization products for a variety of selected professional markets. Barco has its own facilities for Sales & Marketing, Customer Support, R&D and Manufacturing in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Barco (NYSE Euronext Brussels: BAR) is active in more than 90 countries with about 3,500 employees worldwide. Barco posted sales of 897 million euro in 2010.

About Ballantyne Strong, Inc. (www.strong-world.com)

Ballantyne Strong is a provider of digital cinema projection equipment and services as well as cinema screens, motion picture projectors and specialty lighting equipment and services. The Company supplies major and independent theater chains, top arenas, theme parks and architectural sites around the world.

Contacts

Ballantyne Strong, Inc.
Kevin Herrmann, 402-453-4444
Vice President
or
Barco n.v.
Annette Davis, 678-475-8183
Press & PR Specialist, North America
or
Jaffoni & Collins Incorporated
Robert Rinderman / David Collins, 212-835-8500
BTN@jcir.com

Contacts

Ballantyne Strong, Inc.
Kevin Herrmann, 402-453-4444
Vice President
or
Barco n.v.
Annette Davis, 678-475-8183
Press & PR Specialist, North America
or
Jaffoni & Collins Incorporated
Robert Rinderman / David Collins, 212-835-8500
BTN@jcir.com