CBS And RCA Join Forces To Present AFC Divisional Playoffs And AFC Championship Game In HDTV

23-Dec-02

CBS Television and Thomson's RCA brand have entered into an advertising agreement for Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453, NYSE: TMS) to sponsor high-definition coverage of the AFC Divisional Playoff games on January 11 and 12, 2003, and the AFC Championship game on January 19, 2003. Produced by CBS, the three live HDTV telecasts will be unified productions with the analog broadcasts and will, therefore, include commentary and analysis from the same broadcast teams as the analog audience. As with all of CBS Sports' HD productions, these three games will be broadcast in 1080i, the highest definition widescreen digital television format. ""CBS Sports is pleased to partner with Thomson and further the network's position as a leader in the digital sports television arena,"" said Sean McManus, President, CBS Sports. ""From primetime to the best in sports television, CBS continues to create more opportunities than other networks for viewers to enjoy high-definition television in all dayparts."" ""As the official consumer electronics sponsor of the NFL, Thomson is especially pleased to join CBS in making these high-profile playoff games available in the most realistic HDTV format, both to the national television audience and to the entire consumer electronics industry which will be assembled in Las Vegas on January 11 for the annual International Consumer Electronics Show,"" said Thomson's Mike O'Hara, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Marketing & Sales. ""Thomson, through its RCA brand, has been among the leading contributors to the development of HDTV, and today's announcement further demonstrates the extent of our support for this exciting new advancement in home entertainment."" CBS presents the overwhelming majority of its primetime lineup in high-definition. In June 2001, CBS commenced daily weekday HD broadcasts of television's leading daytime drama ""The Young And The Restless."" For the last three years CBS has also produced the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four and Championship Games in HD, as well as The MastersÆ Golf tournament in HDTV. RCA was also instrumental in this year's sign-on to sign off HD coverage of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, the fourth year CBS has offered the Open in HD. Eighty-three of CBS's owned and affiliated stations are currently broadcasting in digital, covering approximately 72 percent of the nation. By kick-off, CBS expects to be transmitting digital programming across more than 100 owned and affiliated stations, reaching well over 83 percent of the country. The consumer electronics industry's most comprehensive selection of digital television products is available from RCA, the brand that introduced commercial television service, and RCA Scenium, Thomson's premier digital television brand. RCA Scenium digital products include three integrated rear-projection HDTVs and four rear-projection and direct-view HDTV monitors, including the industry's first rear-projection HDTV Monitors with built-in DVD players. Three additional digital televisions carrying the RCA brand include two rear-projection and one direct-view HDTV monitor. For more information about Thomson, visit www.thomson.net. For more information about RCA and RCA Scenium, visit www.rca.com.

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