Samsung plans to remove projectors from Indian cinemas. Here's what it promises instead

Projectors may exit Indian cinemas if Samsung has its way. The South Korean technology giant wants to push its Onyx Cinema LED screens instead, which are essentially giant 4K TV screens built into a movie theatre wall.

PVR Cinemas and INOX Leisure Ltd have confirmed that they are in talks with Samsung to introduce such screens this year. Samsung expects to put up 10 screens across metros in India and 30 across the world by the end of the year.

PVR Cinemas has confirmed that they will be launching - beating out INOX - the first Onyx screen in India. The first two screens from PVR Cinemas will come up in Delhi at PVR ICON, DLF Promenade and PVR Phoenix, Lower Parel, Mumbai. PVR Cinemas, in a press release, said that they plan to have 5 theatres "equipped with Cinema LED screens in next 15-18 month across metros".

Samsung pegs the life of each Onyx screen at 100,000 hours (17 years). They are already in use in South Korea, Switzerland and the United States.

As these screens do away with projector rooms, the space freed up can be used for more seats, translating into an increase in revenue for cinema owners. For moviegoers, Onyx will bring in a larger ‘ideal’ viewing spot.

Samsung will bring three screen sizes to India, the largest being 34-feet tall with a resolution of 4096x2160, and they will be able to display 4K, 2K, HDR and 3D quality images. It promises to deliver true blacks with higher vibrancy and accuracy.

The screens are smaller than the standard 45-to-65 foot projection screen at movie theatres but the viewing space is maximised.

The new technology will raise the bar with respect to audio and video quality. The screen works in partial light also. Viewers needn’t sit in complete darkness to discover the true potential of these screens.

Furthermore, since the screens can work in many different kinds of lightings, they can be used for broadcasting e-sports or music concerts among other things giving the audience various modes of entertainment.

Samsung is selling a complete package along with Onyx View, Onyx 3D and Onyx Sound (JBL sound).

Samsung has not revealed the introductory price for the complete solution yet. As The Hollywood Reporter reports, “Samsung said the cost of a screen could run anywhere from $500,000 to $800,000, a hefty price for a theatre owner”. That’s equivalent to approximately 3.7 crore to 5.4 crore.

Samsung hopes to capture 20% of the market in just the next two and a half years.

When Samsung does launch Onyx in India, one may be dismayed to see the ticket prices closer to an IMAX movie. The technology is in its nascent stages and the prices will come down over the years.