- LG has launched a new product line of huge LED screens to replace movie theatre projectors.
- The largest screens on offer are 101 square metres in size, according to the South Korean electronics firm.
- While currently only available in Asia, Europe and North America, we think there’s a market in South Africa, especially in smaller venues like Ster Kinekor’s Cinema Prestige.
Most cinemas the world over employ large projectors to ensure that all the movie-goers inside the theatre can enjoy Thanos getting his head cut off (spoilers from 2019) from the comfort of their seats, without having to huddle around a TV. That is the allure of the cinema, the spectacle, the explosions, the big screen.
This has been the status quo since the birth of movies, especially since building a TV screen large enough to fit a movie theatre has proven difficult. However in recent years more and more cinemas have been installing LED screens, or “video walls” to get rid of their projectors.
South Korean electronic giant LG introduced this technology in 2020, claiming it launched the world’s first LED monitor large enough to replace a movie projector.
Now, LG has launched a new brand of LED screens for cinemas. It says some of the LED screens on offer are from 14 to 101 square metres in size and are still capable of delivering realistic images with natural colours and deep blacks.
The brand is called “Miraclass”, a portmanteau of the words “Miracle” and “Class,” and has four products currently available for movie houses (and we suppose anyone with a big enough wall and a deep enough pocket). Obviously, sizes differ depending on the product, and resolutions go from 2K up to 4K.
“At five meters wide, models LDAA025-1 and LDAA012 are good options for small-capacity theatres, which have become increasingly popular with audiences in recent years,” LG says in a press release about the launch.
It continues that all Miraclass displays are compatible with Dolby’s Integrated Media Server, IMS3000, meaning theatre owners can deliver both high-quality images and sound through the big screens.
The tech behind the screens is impressive too, with LG Miraclass models employing self-emissive LED pixels, which brings 24-but colour processing and high-quality contrast, allowing for more depth and vibrancy.
The screen brightness of the displays can be adjusted across five stages, from 48 to 300nits, offering suitability for various use scenarios – from playing 2D/3D movies to delivering content for company presentations or special ceremonies.
The screens also boast consistent brightness with no corner dimming and produce clear, distortion-free pictures. What’s more, LG Miraclass can display 68.7 billion colour variations, so movies like Avatar: The Way of Water will be viewable in full glory.
LG says the Miraclass screens make it easier for theatre operators and management through its “intuitive” software, and space-wise it completely eliminates the need for projection rooms.
“LG is confident that LG Miraclass will satisfy the needs of operators and meet the expectations of moviegoers seeking memorable cinematic experiences,” said Paik Ki-mun, senior vice president and head of the Information Display business unit of LG Electronics Business Solutions Company.
“To accommodate rising demand and the diverse requirements of movie theatre companies, more lineups and models will be introduced in the future.”
So finally, where can you find these giant LED screens? LG says it has already installed Miraclass displays in Spain, like in the Odeon Multicines in Vilanova (as seen in this article’s cover image above).
Further, more installations are expected throughout Asia, Europe and North America. Of course, Africa has been left out of the list for now, but we think there could be a market for Miraclass screens in South Africa with Ster Kinekor’s Cine Prestige, which offers more luxurious seating and more intimate theatre experiences.
[Image – LG]
