Thomson Continues Market Leadership in High-definition Sports & Entertainment Production, Highlights 35 Million Euros in Grass Valley HD Orders
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· HD Switchers Now Installed in More than 420 Operations
· HD cameras in place in more than 1,500 Fixed and Mobile Facilities
Paris/Amsterdam (IBC - Stands 11.550 / 11.551 7.531 / M214 / OEH201) 07 September 2006 Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) today detailed strong worldwide support for its Grass Valley(TM) HD equipment at the core of this year's most widely watched sports, entertainment and live programming events in high definition (HD), with approximately 35 million euros in recent orders for its cameras and switchers.
"HD is simply exploding everywhere. Sports and drama productions in HD bring incredible value to the consumer's viewing experience, and they have been the first genres broadcasters have switched to HD," said Marc Valentin, president of the Grass Valley business within Thomson. "Broadcasters want flexibility, the most advanced technology, and a fast return on their investment to help their businesses grow. That's the focus of Grass Valley across all of its HD product lines, both now and into the future."
According to Thomson and third-party estimates, content creators and distributors will spend nearly 2.8 billion euros over the next four years on professional equipment - including cameras and switchers, among other products - in what is considered to be the first wave of the global transition to HD.
Driving this success has been Grass Valley's commitment and R&D strategy to support its customers' migration to HD, providing products across the board which allow content creators and broadcasters to move to HD at their own pace without wasted investment. For example, the Grass Valley Kalypso HD and the KayakHD switchers, like the Grass Valley LDK 6000 MK II Worldcam camera and the new Infinity Series digital media camcorder and digital media recorder all allow users to select the video format - standard or high definition - on a project by project basis: even shot by shot in Infinity.
With year-over-year sales growing at approximately 40% for its HD cameras, Thomson estimates that its HD cameras now hold 50% of the global marketshare for HD system cameras. The popular Grass Valley HD camera systems are now used by virtually every major outside broadcast production company in the world, with more than 1,500 already in use.
Orders in the last few months for Grass Valley HD cameras have included those in the USA with National Mobile Television, New Century Productions, F&F Productions, Lyon Video and Colorado Studios; in Europe, Alfacam, Euroscena, Formula 1, Outside Broadcast, the European Parliament, Videotime and Presteigne; and in the Middle-East Al Jazeera International.
With year-over-year sales for Grass Valley HD switchers is also significant, at 76% in 2006 from 2005, Thomson estimates that its HD switchers now hold 45% of the global marketshare for HD productions switchers. Between them, the KalypsoHD and the Kayak(TM) HD switchers are installed in more than 420 operations globally.
Recent orders for the Kayak HD switcher from customers included, for the Americas, Sweetwater Digitals, NEP Supershooters, Crystal Cathedral, Chapman University and Sureshot Transmissions in the; in Europe, Videohouse, Outside Broadcast and Presteigne Broadcast; in Asia, SBS, Tokyo Sound Productions and Brain Inc.
About Thomson - World leader in digital video technologies
Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) provides technology, services, and systems to help its Media & Entertainment clients - content creators, content distributors and users of its technology - realize their business goals and optimize their performance in a rapidly changing technology environment. The Group is the preferred partner to the Media & Entertainment Industries through its Technicolor, Grass Valley, RCA, and Thomson brands. For more information: www.thomson.net.
Scott Clarke
Senior Account Executive
The Whiteoaks Consultancy
24 West Street
Farnham
Surrey
GU9 7DR
t +44 (0) 1252 727 313
f +44 (0) 1252 727 314
e scottc@whiteoaks.co.uk
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