RCA Scenium HDTV, Mammoth Plasma
Displays, Hard-Disc LYRA Personal Jukebox & Exclusive Xbox Connections
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2002--
New Technicolor Digital Memory Cards Offer Affordable Archive for
Digital Images, Music, and Data
Thomson multimedia (Paris Euroclear: 18453) (NYSE:TMS), one of the
world's largest providers of enabling digital video technologies,
systems, finished products, and services to both consumers and
professionals, announced today at the International Consumer
Electronics Show that it will launch a new line of new entertainment
products throughout 2002 that will make it even easier for consumers
to enjoy the myriad benefits of digital technology.
With new products ranging from a giant, five-foot ultra-thin
plasma HDTV monitor, to a handheld computer hard-drive music player
that can store thousands of songs, and an exclusive line of
televisions enhanced to operate with the Xbox video game system from
Microsoft, Thomson plans a diverse offering of digital products that
will give consumers access to more varied forms of information and
entertainment.
"The language of home entertainment has changed, with everyone now
talking about the digital transformation of the home theatre. The
spectacular success of new technologies like DVD and mp3 players
proves that consumers are learning how digital products and services
can become indispensable additions to everyday life. In 2002, we plan
to build on our successes in digital television by expanding the
lineup of RCA Scenium HDTV products. We'll also launch the innovative
RCA LYRA Personal Jukebox, which can hold thousands of songs and
dozens of presentations on its tiny hard drive," said Mike O'Hara,
Executive Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Sales for Thomson
multimedia.
"Under exclusive arrangement with Microsoft, we're also planning
an exclusive lineup of RCA televisions optimized to offer enhanced
video performance just for the Microsoft Xbox gaming system, one of
the holiday season's hottest gifts. And a new form of write-once
Digital Memory Card is coming from Thomson's Technicolor brand, to
free up computers jammed with hundreds of digital photos and mp3
files," O'Hara explained.
Direct Connect to the Xbox
A new series of RCA televisions designed to enhance the playing
experience on the Xbox(TM) video game system from Microsoft is being
developed by Thomson. The new line of analog TV sets incorporate a
unique Xbox component video connection port that enables the TV to
deliver dramatically improved picture detail for Xbox functions. This
new connection takes advantage of the Xbox system's ability to output
component video signal levels, and feeds the signal through a single
connection cable.
More than 15 different RCA TV models will feature the new Xbox
connection in 2002, under a two-year exclusive agreement with
Microsoft.
Technicolor Digital Memory Cards: Affordable Archive
A new type of digital semiconductor memory will soon mean lower
suggested retail prices, convenience, and security for consumers who
use digital cameras, mp3 players and other portable devices.
As digital imaging and portable digital music devices grow in
popularity, Thomson is anticipating the desires of consumers who will
want a permanent digital copy of their favorite photographs and mp3
files. By utilizing a new type of semiconductor technology called
Matrix 3-D Memory, Thomson plans to offer Technicolor Digital Memory
Cards in popular sizes that will dramatically reduce storage expenses
for consumers. Technicolor Digital Memory Cards offer write-once
convenience and security, will come in standard flash formats and
sizes, and will work interchangeably with existing flash cards.
RCA Scenium: High-Definition Highlights
Industry sales of HDTV monitors and sets doubled in 2001, and
Thomson is responding to growing demand for a wide variety of
high-definition televisions, monitors, and related home entertainment
gear. A new lineup of RCA Scenium HDTV sets and HDTV monitors add
convenient copy-protected DVI-HDTV and DTVLink (1394) interfaces that
connect to next-generation HDTV satellite and cable equipment.
The RCA Scenium line will grow this year to include a broader
selection of flat-panel plasma, rear-projection, and direct-view HDTV
monitors and sets, as well as additional high-end audio and video
components. New to the RCA Scenium line is a 61-inch rear-projection
HDTV set with integrated ATSC reception, a flat-screen TV/DVD combo
HDTV monitor, and innovative audio and DVD products.
RCA Scenium, introduced in mid-2001 with HDTV products, is the
centerpiece of Thomson's strategy to leverage its technology and
product development expertise on a worldwide basis to market a single
premium line of advanced home entertainment products. Today's
unveiling demonstrates the company's plans to expand the Scenium range
to embrace a wide variety of additional high-performance products.
Combining elegance and technology in a flat-panel 16x9 widescreen
viewing package, the RCA Scenium Plasma HDTV Monitor series for 2002
includes the 61-inch (diagonal) PHD61400, the 50-inch PHD50400 and the
42-inch PHD42400 models.
Carry Your Collection: RCA LYRA Personal Jukebox
With a hard-disc drive big enough to hold thousands of songs as
well as computer files and digital images, the versatile 10 GB
hard-disc RCA LYRA Personal Jukebox (Model RD2800, suggested retail
price $299) is about to change the way consumers store collections of
mp3 music, presentations, and favorite digital photos. Compatible with
both the Mac and PC platforms, the RCA LYRA Personal Jukebox is
mp3PRO-ready, and is capable of storing 300 hours of compressed music
in the mp3PRO format.
Consumers can organize their music library with the LYRA Personal
Jukebox's comprehensive sorting capability, arranging songs by artist,
album, title, genre, user playlist, audio files and all files.
Weighing just 11 ounces, the RD2800 utilizes a USB connector and is
compatible with both PC and Mac computers (Windows 98, Windows
Millennium Edition, Windows XP, Windows ME or Mac OS X).
Multifunctional, robust, and lightweight, the RCA LYRA Personal
Jukebox is more than just a music storage and playback device -- it
also provides complete hard drive capability. Consumers can use the
LYRA Personal Jukebox to store and transport files from a desktop,
including digital images, and presentation and word processing
documents.
As the mp3 music format continues to grow in popularity, Thomson
multimedia (co-developer of the mp3 and mp3PRO digital audio formats)
has also incorporated mp3 capability into approximately 25 percent of
its personal, portable CD bookshelf and home theatre product lines.
Current mp3 audio products include a miniature mp3 portable, mp3
boombox, mp3 CD player and two 5-disc mp3 systems.
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding
prospects for the future that involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual income to
differ materially from those expected are the following: business
conditions and general economic conditions; competitive factors such
as pricing and marketing efforts of rival companies; timing of product
introductions; ability of contract manufacturers to meet product price
objectives and delivery schedules; legislative, regulatory, and
industry initiatives that may affect planned or actual product
features and marketing methods; and the pace and success of product
research and development. For more information on the potential
factors that could affect the company's financial income, please
review the relevant SEC filings.
About Thomson multimedia
With sales of 9.1 billion Euros (U.S. $ 8.3 billion) in 2000 and
73,000 employees in more than 30 countries, Thomson multimedia (Paris
Euroclear: 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 multimedia
has five principal activities: Digital Media Solutions, Displays and
Components, Consumer Products, Patents and Licensing, and New Media
Services. The company distributes its products under the THOMSON, RCA
and TECHNICOLOR brand names. For more information:
www.thomson-multimedia.com.
NOTE TO MEDIA: Photo is available in a Smart News Release(TM) on
Business Wire's Home Page at www.businesswire.com and at
www.newstream.com
Note: A Photo is available at URL:
businesswire.com
--30--slb/clv*
CONTACT: Thomson multimedia
Press Relations
Nicolas Jomard, 331.41.86.5597 (France)
jomardm@thmulti.com
Dave Arland, 317/587-4450 (United States)
ArlandD@tce.com
Investor Relations
Stephane Rougeot, 331.41.86.5297
rougeots@thmulti.com |
