Hey Wart; TRID - maybe a catalyst
Tuesday November 16, 4:39 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Trident Unveils its DPTV Chip, An Industry
First for the Digital Television Marketplace
The Highly Integrated DPTV Video Processor Launches Trident's New Strategic
Direction for the Greater Consumer Digital Video Market
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 1999--Trident Microsystems, Inc.
(Nasdaq:TRID - news), a world-wide leader in developing cutting edge video imaging and graphics
solutions for the PC and consumer digital video marketplace, today announced the world's first
single-chip digital television video processor, the DPTV(TM), catapulting Trident into a new and exciting
product market with significant business opportunities.
This innovative solution for the digital television marketplace brings to life Trident's extensive knowledge
of digital video and convincingly demonstrates the company's ability to leverage it's advanced digital video
imaging and graphics technologies into new emerging markets.
According to the Consumer Electronics Manufacturing Association (CEMA), there are approximately 250
million television sets in the U.S. and 600 million worldwide. It is estimated that market penetration by
high definition television (HDTV) sets will only reach 30% of the total television marketplace by the year
2006. This is due primarily to the excessively high cost of available HDTV products which place them out
of the affordable reach of most consumers. Trident's industry first, revolutionary single-chip DPTV(TM)
incorporates progressive scan and high refresh rate into traditional television technology making possible
the implementation of a low cost digital television set delivering the highest levels of digital video quality in
a Standard Definition Television (SDTV) format. It is anticipated that the single-chip DPTV(TM) will
have a major impact on the television and internet appliance video display industries by addressing a
lucrative market niche that bridges the gap between conventional analog television and HDTV.
''Trident's DPTV(TM) dramatically fuels the television industry's shift to a new paradigm, accelerating
the transition from conventional analog television to the digital television era,'' stated Frank Lin, Trident's
Chairman and CEO. ''This industry transition from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting is
anticipated to be in full swing over the next decade creating tremendous opportunities for companies
offering video imaging VLSI products. Over the next five years it is estimated that the digital television
market will consume in excess of 250 million units of digital television processors such as Trident's
DPTV(TM),'' continued Frank Lin. ''Our DPTV(TM) single-chip solution uses digital processing
technologies and a patent pending de-interlacing algorithm which delivers a resolution double that of
conventional analog television at minimal additional cost.''
Trident's single-chip DPTV(TM) video processors have achieved the highest levels of integration through
a unique, industry first architecture. This integrated architecture enables Trident's DPTV(TM) to replace
as many as seven discrete VLSI chips found in today's digital TV products while at the same time
providing crisper and sharper digital video imaging. Trident's DPTV(TM) also contains an advanced TV
decoder equipped with a programmable 5 tap adaptive digital comb filter which supports NTSC, PAL and
SECAM formats. Trident's (patent pending) adaptive static detect de-interlacing technology significantly
improves clarity and sharpness of the overall picture. In addition there are 14 dynamic picture
enhancements available for fine tuning video display quality, DPTV(TM) also enables desirable features
such as Picture-in-Picture, Picture-Out-Picture, VBI and closed caption, 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratio screen,
and a graphics oriented on-screen display which provides the most flexible and eye appealing interface.
The unique highly integrated architecture of Trident's DPTV(TM) truly provides the consumer with a
''no-compromise'' digital video quality at exceptionally affordable prices. Catering to different needs,
Trident's new DPTV(TM) comes in three configurations, the deluxe DPTV(TM) DX, the high
performance DPTV(TM) HX (without PIP), and the 100Hz interlace only DPTV(TM) iX. The
DPTV(TM) DX is priced at $50, DPTV(TM) HX is priced at $40 and DPTV(TM) iX at $35 in 10K
quantities. DPTV(TM) avaialbility is anticipated in the first quarter of calendar 2000.
Trident's DPTV(TM) is the first offering in the company's exciting new product family directed at
addressing strong consumer demand for affordable high-quality digital video imaging as the industry
enters the digital television era. In order to stay ahead of this rapidly growing market Trident is currently
in development of its next generation internet-ready HDTV single chip solution, expected to be available
to the market in the second half of next year.
''Industry response to Trident's DPTV(TM) has been tremendous and I am very pleased to announce
that a few selected major television manufacturers in China, Japan and Korea have favorably reviewed
our DPTV(TM) resulting in the first design wins for this exciting new product. We are very enthusiastic
about the market potential for Trident's DPTV(TM) product family as it truly embodies our corporate
mission statement to provide ''Digital Media for the Masses'' by delivering tomorrow's digital media
technology to today's consumer,'' concluded Frank Lin.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements which use words such as,
''anticipated,'' ''expected,'' ''estimated,'' and statements regarding the company's expectations for the
digital television and DPTV(TM) market, and designs wins for the DPTV(TM) product which are not yet
in production. The forward-looking statements above are subject to certain risks, and actual results could
vary materially depending on a number of factors. These risks include, in particular, trends in the
television industry, the results of Trident's sales and shipment activities to television manufacturers,
Trident's ability to timely introduce new or follow-on products, Trident's success in implementing planned
production, competitive pressures, including pricing and competitors' new product introductions.
Additional factors that may affect the Company's business are described in detail in the Company's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About the Company
Trident Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq:TRID - news), with headquarters in Santa Clara, California, designs,
develops and markets digital media for the masses in the form of graphics controllers and multimedia
integrated circuits for PCs. Trident's products are sold through a network of OEMs, original design
manufacturers and system integrators worldwide. For further information about Trident and its products
please consult the company's web site: tridentmicro.com.
Allan
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