RCA, ProScan Brand Product Line Features Widescreen Digital HDTV, Digital High-Resolution Monitors And High-Definition Digital Receivers
RCA, ProScan Brand Product Line Features Widescreen Digital HDTV, Digital High-Resolution Monitors And High-Definition Digital Receivers Driven by a commitment to making digital television an affordable reality for consumers, Thomson Consumer Electronics this year will introduce a broad array of innovative RCA and ProScan brand digital TV products ranging from HDTV to high-resolution multimedia monitors and set-top decoders that deliver lifelike picture performance and theatre-quality audio capability. Digital television and its centerpiece application - HDTV - offer stunningly clear images and six-channel surround sound capability along with a host of potential interactive and data applications. Equally impressive picture performance is accessible to consumers via Thomson-brand high-resolution monitors teamed with RCA and ProScan brand digital set-top converters. ""Thomson is committed to a digital TV product line that addresses the needs of a broad scope of consumers, from the top-of-the-line ProScan and RCA rear-projection HDTVs to the economical digital-set-top converter,"" said Gilbert M. Ravelette, Vice President-TV Product Management. ""Our company has enjoyed a strong leadership position in the U.S. market through much of the analog era, and we are dedicated to retaining that role in the digital era of consumer electronics."" Thomson's digital television line for 1999 includes: Digital Hi-Res Monitors Three high-resolution rear projection digital monitors in 51- and 61-inch (diagonal) screen sizes along with four direct-view digital monitors in 27-, 32- and 36-inch screen sizes are planned for both the RCA and ProScan brands. The multimedia monitors - when connected to a Thomson-brand digital converter - will display HDTV quality images in the traditional 4:3 (1.33:1) picture format. Multiple inputs provide for easy connection to high-resolution signal sources such as DVD players, direct broadcast satellite systems, and personal computers. Select direct-view monitor models are currently available. Rear projection models include the RCA 52-inch MM52100HR (suggested retail price $2,999) and 61-inch MM61100HR (suggested retail price $3,399) and the 61-inch ProScan PS61800HR (suggested retail price $3,499). Direct-view units are the RCA 36-inch MM36100HR (suggested retail price $2,599) and 27-inch MM27100HR (suggested retail price $1599) along with the 36-inch ProScan PS36800HR (suggested retail price $2,799) and 32-inch PS32800HR (suggested retail price $2,299). High-Definition Digital Receivers The cost-effective approach to HDTV is afforded through a pair of digital set-top converters, the RCA DTC1OO and the ProScan PSHD105 (both suggested retail price $649) which display both digital DirecTV and digital-over-the-air programs on todayís analog receivers. When connected to a Thomson-brand high-resolution monitor, the set-top converters enable the monitors to display HDTV quality video resolution as well as S-VGA and VGA resolution for video games and computer graphics. Digital HDTV Fully-integrated rear-projection digital HDTV models include the all-new RCA P61300 and the ProScan PS61000 61-inch (diagonal) rear-projection HDTV models (both $7,999 suggested retail price) that feature a widescreen 16:9 (1.78:1) screen appropriate for the most demanding home theatre standards. These models require no set-top devices and have the built-in capability to receive analog, digital, and HDTV programming via both terrestrial broadcasting and DIRECTV satellite broadcasts. In the direct-view category, Thomson plans to offer fully integrated 38-inch and 34-inch digital HDTV in the 16:9 (1.78:1) widescreen aspect ratio at price points designed to advance broad consumer acceptance of HDTV. Both models will utilize advanced ""Performax Expansion Series"" picture tubes manufactured at Thomson's Marion, Indiana, plant, the nationís largest color TV picture tube facility. The direct-view models will combine advanced picture performance technology with a fine-pitch (.78mm) color picture tube and an Invar shadow mask to support the resolution requirements of HDTV with the brightest possible picture. HDTV CinemaScreen Plasma Monitor Completing the family of new digital products from Thomson, and crowning the PROSCAN line, is a widescreen 1.78:1 digital HDTV employing flat-screen plasma technology. The 50-inch (diagonal) plasma display monitor is only four inches deep and provides color images so real they appear to literally jump off the screen. Capable of hanging on a wall, the display area of the PS50100W is virtually all screen with the viewing area outlined by a slim border designed to resemble a picture frame. For more information, contact Dave Arland at Arland@tce.com or James Harper at HarperJ@tce.com.