Is Australia copying UK Film Council's DSN?

While I have some big news about the UK Film Council's Digital Screen Network (DSN), I cannot reveal them just yet to protect my sources. So instead I'll share with you some news that has reached me from the other side of the world. From Australia, to be precise.

The Australians are setting up something called the Regional Digital Screen Network (RDSN), where digita projectors around the country (continenet?) will be used to promote the greater access to and distribution of Australian films. Here is a snippet from the article I heard about it from (thewest.com.au - Albany to get digital movies):

Albany will be one of eight towns around Australia to get a digital cinema in a bid to bring more Australian content to country audiences.

Among other benefits, the Regional Digital Screen Network will allow country audiences to watch films they would have previously had to wait several months to see.

The Australian Film Commission will oversee Australian programming for the network, including first-release movies, festival programs, documentaries, shorts, programs for schools and other local works from a digital content database.

The scheme will install digital cinema systems by early next year in eight independent venues in Albany, Port Augusta in South Australia, Yarram in Victoria, Katherine in the Northern Territory, Devonport in Tasmania, Hervey Bay in Queensland and Wagga Wagga and Singleton in New South Wales.

Does this remind you of something? It's a lot like the UK Film Council's Digital Screen Network, isn't it? Here is the original press release setting out the project: AFC’s Regional Digital Screen Network takes Australian films to more Australians. No word on whether this is set at a DCI level or even 2K (if you have insights - leave comment, or even crack a joke about Crocodile Dundee in digital).

Had I still been at Screen Digest, I would most likely have spotted this months ago, as indeed my colleagues have done already: Australia establishes regional digital centres, where they also note the "echoes" of the UKFC's DSN. Well done Charlotte and David.