Thomson Multimedia To Continue As A Key Provider Of Digital Satellite Systems Under New Two-Year Pact With DIRECTVÆ Latin America

Renewal Of Alliance Further Strengthens Commitment Between Leaders In Satellite Delivered Home Entertainment Including New Interactive Services

16-Apr-01

Thomson Multimedia and DIRECTV Latin America announced the extension of an agreement in which Thomson will continue to serve as the primary supplier of set-top receiver systems for the DIRECTVÆ satellite entertainment service in all markets of South America and the Caribbean (excluding Puerto Rico). DIRECTV is the leading satellite entertainment service in Latin America, offering 325 video and audio channels of digital quality programming to more than 1.3 million customers in 27 countries. Thomson Multimedia has served as the lead system integrator and leading supplier of hardware for DIRECTV in Latin America since the service was launched in the region in 1996. To date, Thomson Multimedia has shipped over two million digital receiver/decoders to Latin American markets. ""Todayís announcement reinforces the commitment that Thomson Multimedia shares with DIRECTV Latin America for delivering the broadest scope of quality home entertainment services to its customers,"" said Thomson Multimediaís Enrique Rodriguez, Executive Vice President - Multimedia Products Worldwide. ""Over the past five years, we have worked closely with DIRECTV to assure that their customers experience the full benefits of digital technology with significantly enhanced picture and sound performance."" The DIRECTV satellite systems manufactured by Thomson Multimedia under the agreement are all equipped for interactive applications that further expand the entertainment offering for customers. DIRECTV Latin America has the ability to download applications via satellite directly to the receivers for interactive services such as enhanced program and customer service information, local weather reports, games, and banking applications accessed via their remote control or an optional keyboard. ""The latest agreement with Thomson Multimedia results from a long-term close relationship that enables DIRECTV Latin America to further expand the wide array of entertainment and information services already offered to our customers,"" said DIRECTV Latin Americaís Gary D. Genaw, Vice President of Planning & Logistics. ""Thomson Multimedia has demonstrated that it shares our dedication to enhancing the subscriberís viewing experience and providing them with advanced, state-of-the-art services."" Thomson Multimedia pioneered direct broadcast satellite receiver systems with the 1994 introduction of the RCA DIRECTV system in the continental U.S. Thomson Multimedia is a global leader in the manufacture and marketing of digital decoders with more than 15 million systems sold over the past seven years. The systems designed for DIRECTV Latin America include a set-top digital receiver/decoder and remote control. The systems are manufactured at Thomson Multimediaís high-tech facility in Juarez, Mexico, as well as the Manaus, Brazil facility which was established in 1999 to support markets in Brazil and Argentina. For more information about Thomson Multimedia, visit www.thomson-multimedia.com. For more information on DIRECTV in Latin America, visit www.directvla.com.

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