I put this story in the Toy Story 3 thread but I thought I share this new news in it's own dedicated thread:

ShoWest 2010: Dolby Rolling Out Surround 7.1 with Toy Story 3
Source: Dolby Laboratories
March 17, 2010


At ShoWest 2010, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. announced it is working with Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios to deliver a new audio format, Dolby Surround 7.1. Disney and Pixar have stated that Dolby Surround 7.1 will be launched in select theaters with the release of Toy Story 3 in 3D this June.

"For 40 years Dolby has not only provided content creators with the tools to create a more realistic audio experience, but has also enabled the exhibitor to deliver audiences the ability to experience the content as the creator intended," said Page Haun, Senior Director, Marketing, Cinema Market Segment, Dolby Laboratories. "The release of 'Toy Story 3' in a discrete 7.1 mix will raise the bar for movie theatre owners and their patrons."

Dolby Surround 7.1 brings a more exciting sensory experience to audiences for 2D and gives content creators control over audio placement in a theatre when mixing 3D movies. The ability to compose audio with visual elements of 3D allows content creators to immerse the audience deeper into the movie with dramatic realism.

Dolby Surround 7.1 provides content creators four surround zones to better orchestrate audio channels in a movie theatre environment. The four surround zones incorporate the traditional Left Surround and Right Surround with new Back Surround Left and Back Surround Right zones. The addition of the two Back Surround zones enhances directionality in panning 360 degrees around the theatre.

Dolby Surround 7.1 format comprises 8 channels of audio and has the following channel layout: Left, Center, Right, Low-Frequency Effects (LFE), Left Surround, Right Surround, Back Surround Left (new), and Back Surround Right (new). In order for exhibitors to deliver the new format, Dolby will be providing Dolby Surround 7.1 playback capabilities in the Dolby CP650 and Dolby CP750 digital cinema audio processor lines.

At ShoWest, Dolby is demonstrating to exhibitors a discrete 7.1 mixed demo reel of past Pixar movies to showcase the advanced audio solution. After the show, exhibitors will be able to access the content to test and demonstrate in their theaters.

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this is cool news since alot of movies are now released in 7.1 on blu (my current home theatre is only 6.1), and it seemed like a logical sense for the theatre expeerience to replicate this. Hopefully when 'Toy Story 3' gets released a list of theatres which have made the upgrade will get posted online - I'll be sure to post them here on DVDTalk as well.

what are theaters now? basically 5.1? I have 7.1 setup at home right now and like it.

Movie theaters already have the proper speaker set up for 7.1. The surround speakers line the side and back walls to produce a diffused surround field. Some theaters have been running Dolby EX for the past decade, which is 6.1 with a matrixed back surround. That was introduced with the first Star Wars prequel.

Very cool

some theatres that showcase 8-channel Sony Dynamic Digital Sound have five channels of sound behind the screen + subwoofer and split surrounds.

I've had the capability for 7.1 for years, but both rooms with surround sound aren't conducive to speakers on the side. Which sucks, as I'd like to do it.

Warner Bros. has finally jumped on board with releasing it's first film in 7.1 :

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1

hopefully we'll see more.

also 'Immortals' will be released as such.

Isn't Breaking Dawn a Summit release?

you're absolutely right - whoops!

To be fair, the only reason I knew is because the trailer was attached to The Three Musketeers.