Video Industry
Las Vegas, Nev, April 14, 2003 - Thomson (Paris 18453; NYSE TMS) announced today that DIRECTV, the nation’s leading digital multichannel television provider and already a longstanding customer of Thomson, has selected Thomson to supply a significant quantity of encoders and signal management equipment, part of the new ViBE product line that is making its debut at this year’s National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention. The comprehensive technology agreement will enable more of DIRECTV’s base of more than 11 million subscribers to watch their local terrestrial broadcast station channels via satellite. The ViBE Series is a new full-featured product family of compact yet powerful video encoders, decoders, multiplexers and related modular products that help broadcasters, DBS and cable providers, and other program contributors mange their distribution channels with a cost-effective system of integrated and highly compatible products. Featuring advanced compression techniques and a new processing chipset developed by Thomson, the new ViBE encoders will allow the DIRECTV architecture to get the most out of its available bandwidth and increase its on-screen image quality. “This agreement further strengthens the longstanding relationship we have built with DIRECTV since we developed together the first high power digital broadcast satellite network in 1992. It recognizes Thomson’s leadership in digital technologies used across the video chain, from professionals to consumers, and demonstrates our capacity to support our customers as they are willing to expand their digital business. We are ready to leverage our leading technology and market positions to capitalize on growth opportunities as the digitalization of the video chain accelerates.” said Lanny Raimondo, Senior Executive Vice President of Thomson’s Digital Media Solutions division. ### Certain statements in this press release, including any discussion of management expectations for future periods, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements due to changes in global economic and business conditions, consumer electronics markets, and regulatory factors. More detailed information on the potential factors that could affect the financial results of Thomson is contained in Thomson's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. About DIRECTV DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital multichannel service provider with more than 11 million customers. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo are registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp. HUGHES is the world-leading provider of digital television entertainment, broadband satellite networks and services, and global video and data broadcasting. The earnings of HUGHES, a unit of General Motors Corporation, are used to calculate the earnings attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock (NYSE: GMH). For more information, visit www.DIRECTV.com. About Thomson With sales of 10.2 billion Euros (U.S. $ 9.6 billion) in 2002, Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) provides a wide range of video (and enabling) technologies, systems, finished products and services to consumers and professionals in the entertainment and media industries. To advance and enable the digital media transition, Thomson has four principal divisions: Content and Networks, Consumer Products, Components, and Licensing. The company distributes its products under the Technicolor, Grass Valley, THOMSON and RCA brand names. For more information: http://www.thomson.net/ As part of Thomson Digital Media Solutions division, the Broadcast and Media Solutions activity delivers products and solutions for broadcast and TV/Film professionals under its Grass Valley brand. These open, integrated digital products that work together along the entire digital video chain to support a variety of workflows, from content capture and acquisition through production, post production, and transmission. With a proven track record in broadcast, including 17 Emmy® and multiple industry awards, it offers an award-winning, robust product portfolio that touches more high-quality content than any other; product and systems expertise that has yielded hundreds of patents and a number of industry standards; and worldwide software engineering expertise and customer support teams that are second to none. For information about Grass Valley products from Thomson please visit www.thomsongrassvalley.com. * * * Press relations Stéphane Rougeot - Tel: 33 1.41.86.5003 stephane.rougeot@thomson.net Laura Barber (United States) - Tel: 1 (503) 526 7904 laura.barber@thomson.net Investor relations Pierre Villadary - Tel: 33 1.41.86.6888 pierre.villadary@thomson.net
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