Cintel
| Company type | Division (formerly independent) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Digital cinema, post-production hardware |
| Predecessor | Cinema Television Ltd |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Founder | John Logie Baird |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Fate | Liquidated; assets acquired by Blackmagic Design |
| Successor | Blackmagic Design (assets) |
| Headquarters | Ware , United Kingdom |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Telecine devices, 3-tube RGB color video projectors, flying spot scanners, CCD telecines |
| Owner | Rank Organisation (historically) |
| Parent | Rank Organisation (historically) |
Cintel was a UK-based digital cinema firm established in 1927 by John Logie Baird, headquartered in Ware, Hertfordshire. Initially operating under the name Cinema Television Ltd, it was acquired by the J Arthur Rank Organization and rebranded as Rank Cintel in 1958. The company specialized in high-end post-production hardware for transferring film to video and digital formats, functioning as a division within the Rank Organisation. Besides telecine devices, Rank Cintel also manufactured 3-tube RGB color video projectors during the 1960s.
The core technologies employed in its products included either cathode ray tube (CRT) Flying-spot scanner or charge-coupled device (CCD) systems. In 2002, Cintel expanded its portfolio by acquiring Innovation TK, known for upgrade solutions like the TWiGi system, SCAN’dAL, and Y-Front.
Numerous movies and television programs were converted to video using Cintel Telecines. However, following the launch of the Spirit DataCine in 1996, their sales experienced a downturn. The company eventually entered administration and was liquidated; on 24 July 2012, its assets were purchased by Blackmagic Design.
History
- 1927: Founded by John Logie Baird as the Baird Television Company, later renamed Cinema-Television.
- 1940: Cinema-Television was acquired by Gaumont-British.
- 1941: Control of Gaumont-British and Cinema-Television transferred to the Rank Organisation.
- During WWII: Cinema-Television supplied specialized photoelectric cells and CRTs supporting wartime efforts.
- 1945: Cinema-Television took over Bush Radio.
- 1950: Installation of the first flying spot telecine at BBC's Lime Grove Studios.
- 1958: The company was renamed Rank Cintel Limited.
- 1946: Introduction of TMk1, the first continuous Motion Flying Spot Telecine for 35mm film.
- 1964: Launch of Mk II Telecine featuring twin lenses compatible with both 35mm and 16mm film.
- 1967: Development of Flying Spot Color Slide Scanner with manual slide switching capability.
- 1975: Release of Mk III jump scan Analog telecine system.
- 1977: MPV (Motion Picture Video Corporation, Toronto) introduced the first Rank Cintel Flying Spot Scanner in North America.
- 1977: Introduction of Mk IIIC Digiscan with enhanced features.
- 1980: Ferrit Sound Follower launched to support double system magnetic audio.
- 1982: Debut of ADS-1 CCD Telecine.
- 1987: MK IIIB offered progressive scan CRT alongside Digiscan for SDTV applications; ADS-2 CCD Telecine also presented.
- 1987: MK3C Digiscan provided four 4:2:2 output channels and Ref Frame functionality.
- 1988: Release of ADS-8 CCD slide scanner compatible with Kodak carousel projectors; Rank Cintel showcased Mk III HDTV model at International Broadcasting Convention.
- 1989: Introduction of Ursa 4:2:2 telecine delivering D1 color space output.
- 1993: Launch of Ursa Gold featuring 4:4:4 output capabilities.
- 1997: Presentation of Ursa Diamond incorporating third-party enhancements.
- Integration of OSCAR optical dust and scratch removal system into telecine units.
- C-Reality HD telecine introduced with Data option tailored for Digital Intermediate (DI) workflows.
- 2002: Release of DSX telecine HD and Data models; acquisition of Innovation TK broadened product offerings including Millennium HD and Data Telecine systems.
- 2003: GRACE internal Film Grain Reducer option made available for C-Reality and DSX machines.
- 2004: Demonstration of dataMill fast data scanner based on Millennium II technology; GRACE also offered as an external film grain reduction solution.
- 2005: Unveiling of diTTo low-end 2K data scanner equipped with native 3K sensor alongside diTTo Evolution and ImageMill products; development of OCEAN controller completed.
Innovation TK
Innovation TK Ltd (ITK), established in 1994, became part of Cintel through an acquisition in 2002. This purchase brought important products into Cintel's portfolio, including the Millennium HD and Millennium Data Telecine systems.
See also
- Test film
- 3D LUT
- Color motion picture film
- Color suite
- Da Vinci Systems for color grading and video editing solutions
- Pandora International
References
- Digital Content Producer Millimeter, A Brief History of Film-to-Tape: With DTV and HDTV-What's Next?, Feb 1, 1998, by W. Leitner
- A Brief History for Colorists from finalcolor.com
- The History of Television, 1942 to 2000 By Albert Abramson, Christopher H. Sterling
External links
- Articles with short description
- Manufacturing companies established in 1927
- Manufacturing companies disestablished in 2012
- Technology companies established in 1927
- Technology companies disestablished in 2012
- British companies established in 1927
- British companies disestablished in 2012
- 2012 mergers and acquisitions
- Defunct companies of the United Kingdom
- Companies based in East Hertfordshire District
- Film and video technology
- Manufacturing companies of the United Kingdom
- Insolvent companies of the United Kingdom