Complete RCA Digital Television Line From Thomson Multimedia Grows To Meet Consumer Demand

New Factory Investment Adds Digital TV Production Capacity

19-Jul-01

Recognizing that consumers want to enter the world of digital television at their own pace and budget, Thomson Multimedia (Euroclear: 18453) (NYSE: TMS) will offer consumers 17 different digital TV models, ranging from a 32-inch HDTV monitor to a variety of HDTV projection, plasma, and Liquid Crystal on Silicon products. By brand, the new line includes 12 RCA digital TV products and five RCA Scenium HDTV sets and monitors. ""Thomson has made a strategic and financial investment in digital television and we are offering consumers a wide variety of choices as they upgrade to digital TV - from versatile HDTV monitors and set-top receivers to full-blown, integrated widescreen HDTV sets,"" said Vic Theobalds, Vice President, Television Product Management. ""To support growing consumer demand for higher quality digital TV products, Thomson is making a $9.5 million investment to increase our manufacturing capacity at one of our TV assembly facilities. The first digital TV products will come off this new line in August,"" he added. New ""D Series"" Monitors Offer Progressive Scan Up-Conversion Thomson's digital HDTV monitor lineup expands to include 32-inch, 36-inch, 52-inch, and 61-inch models that now offer progressive scan up-conversion for video sources, thereby eliminating visible scanning lines on the display. These 4:3 aspect ratio HDTV monitors feature 1080i display of high definition signals, scan velocity modulation, and six A/V inputs for connecting up to six home entertainment devices. ""D"" Series monitors also feature two SYNCROSCAN component video inputs (15-pin D-SUB input with included adapter cable and YPrPb input) to allow connection of up to two component video sources such as DVD players and HDTV set-top receivers. The advanced twin tuner NTSC picture-in-picture feature allows viewers to watch two channels simultaneously and the new ""D"" series HDTV monitors also feature an on-screen interactive TV guide. The 52-inch and 61-inch projection TV models also feature the 3D/YC Digital Frame Comb Filter and INTELLIFOCUS auto convergence. With retail shipments beginning in late summer, the new ""D"" series of RCA digital HDTV monitors are: - D32TF20 (32-inch flat), suggested retail price $1,699- D36TF20 (36-inch flat), suggested retail price $2,299- D36120 (36-inch), suggested retail price $1,899- D52120 (52-inch projection), suggested retail price $2,299- D52130 (52-inch projection), suggested retail price $2,299- D61120 (61-inch projection), suggested retail price $2,999- D61130 (61-inch projection), suggested retail price $2,999 Versatile Multimedia Monitors Offer Computer Connectivity Continuing in the RCA line are four HDTV monitors that can also be used as computer monitors. A major entertainment advantage of Thomson's ""MM Series"" of HDTV monitors, which double as multimedia displays, is the capability to accommodate a wide assortment of products with their multiple A/V connections to support video games, satellite receivers, HDTV receivers, camcorders, digital still cameras, or regular and progressive scan DVD players. For optimum performance, the HDTV monitors should be connected to the innovative RCA DTC100 HDTV receiver, resulting in HDTV-quality picture performance with up to 1.3 million pixels in rear-projection monitors and up to 864,000 pixels in direct-view models. Picture performance enhancements built into the monitors include a Deluxe Shielded Tuner with 181-channel tuning capability that dramatically reduces ghosting caused from off-air pick-up when watching cable channels, Dynamic BlackStretch circuitry that enhances contrast and detail, high performance scan velocity modulation that improves sharpness and detail, especially in high-contrast areas, and a high performance video amplifier that optimizes performance from high resolution signal sources such as the RCA-DIRECTVÆ satellite receiver, DVD players, and S-Video signals. MM Series HDTV monitors also include an on-screen interactive TV guide. Four models comprise the ""MM Series"" RCA HDTV monitors:MM32110 (32-inch), suggested retail price $1,549MM36110 (36-inch), suggested retail price $1,899MM52110 (52-inch projection), suggested retail price $2,299MM61110 (61-inch projection), suggested retail price $2,999 Digital Widescreen Plasma Monitors Offering a virtual living wall of entertainment, Thomson multimedia offers two Digital Plasma Monitors - the digital RCA PR42300 (suggested retail price $8,499) and the digital high definition RCA Scenium PHD50300 (suggested retail price $14,999). Both are ideal for either home or corporate environments, and both models feature a widescreen viewing area and multiple A/V and computer inputs, including composite S-Video, SYNCROSCAN component video (YPrPb), and VGA - to simplify the connection of A/V and computing components. The Built-In Advantage: Integrated HDTV Sets Thomson's most advanced digital television receivers feature fully-integrated electronics that allow easy reception of all over-the-air ATSC digital and analog broadcasts, analog cable transmissions, and the full array of standard satellite DIRECTV and high definition DIRECTV programming (with optional elliptical dish and programming subscription.) Four models of advanced HDTV sets are available:The industry's largest widescreen direct-view HDTV is the RCA F38310. This 38-inch HDTV includes Thomsonís advanced PERFORMAX high definition picture tube that delivers more than 1.3 million pixels of resolution, 20 watts of audio power, and SYNCROSCAN HD component video input for simple connection to digital components such as DVD players and digital cable TV set-top devices that use the YPrPb component video connections. Suggested retail price is $2,999.Thomson introduces Liquid Crystal on Silicon HDTV with the L50000 from the RCA Scenium line. Utilizing three reflective light imagers and a sophisticated prism and lensing system, light is transformed into a laser-like beam and imprinted with a high definition image that is then magnified and displayed in a perfectly aligned widescreen format. The result: a very light, very bright, high definition television. At about 100 pounds, the LCOS Model L50000 weighs 60 percent less than a comparable projection TV, and it can be placed in a variety of room settings since the front-to-back cabinet depth is only 18 inches thin. The L50000 will display up to 2.76 million individually addressable pixels, through its three-imager matrix display. High definition LCOS images are presented without any scanning lines, and the product can deliver HDTV at full, progressive, 1280 x 720 resolution with a horizontal viewing angle of virtually 180 degrees. The L50000 will be available at a suggested retail price of $6,999.The RCA P61310 is a widescreen 61-inch projection set with more than 1.5 million pixels of digital video resolution. This HDTV features a high definition optical system, high gain, dark tint screen for 25 percent improved picture brightness, high resolution projection tubes, INTELLIFOCUSô auto convergence, and a built-in screen protector with a suggested retail price of $3,999.Rounding out Thomson's digital TV lineup is the RCA Scenium HD65W20, a 65-inch projection HDTV set with more than 1.5 million pixels of digital video resolution. The unit features a high definition optical system, high gain, dark tint screen for 25 percent improved picture brightness, high resolution projection tubes, INTELLIFOCUSô auto convergence, and a built-in screen protector with a suggested retail price of $4,499. For more information about Thomson Multimedia, visit www.thomson-multimedia.com.

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