RCA And ProScan HDTV Products Priced To Reach A Wider Audience

11-Jan-00

Thomson Multimedia (NYSE: TMS), the manufacturer and marketer of RCA and ProScan television products, announced at CES 2000 suggested retail price points on new direct-view and projection HDTV sets that will make digital television an affordable choice for more consumers than ever before in the year 2000.""Weíve determined that itís time to jump-start the sales of HDTV,"" said Michael D. OíHara, Senior Vice President-Americas, Thomson. ""HDTV will now be available at less than $4,000 ñ a stunning 50% drop in suggested retail pricing for HDTV products from last yearís Consumer Electronics Show, when our only integrated HDTV offering carried a $7,999 suggested retail price. With digital television now moving into the mainstream, we are confident that when consumers see these sets and the price tags they will respond with enthusiasm.""Thomson also announced a new line-up of digital HDTV sets that will soon be available. An impressive widescreen 65-inch rear-projection ProScan HDTV will be joined by an all-new 61-inch RCA rear-projection high-definition receiver. 38-inch widescreen direct-view HDTV models will be available in both the RCA and ProScan lines, and ProScan will also offer a 34-inch widescreen HDTV receiver. Plasma television paired with a digital HDTV set-top receiver is available, as is a line of digital high-resolution monitors in standard aspect ratio screens to bring new digital technology within reach of more viewers.Direct-View HDTVAt 38-inches diagonal measurement across its widescreen tube, the worldís largest direct-view HDTV set will also be among the industryís most affordable when it makes its debut in mid-2000. Offered in a stunning ""Venetian Suede"" silver finish, the RCA widescreen F38310 HDTV will carry a suggested retail price of $3,999. The ProScan widescreen 38-inch HDTV set, the PS38000, will also carry a $3,999 suggested retail price and the same electronics package as the RCA 38-inch model. And the smaller 34-inch widescreen ProScan HDTV PS34000 will also feature built-in HDTV electronics and have a suggested retail price of $3,499 when available at retail in late 2000.The 38-inch set and the 34-inch 16:9 widescreen HDTV models are capable of displaying more than one million pixels of picture information with a 1080i scanning format. These models feature a fully-integrated electronics package that easily allows reception of over-the-air analog and digital signals as well as built-in standard DirecTV service and high-definition programming from the DirecTV satellite network. The direct-view models feature Thomsonís advanced PERFORMAX picture tubes, up to 20 watts of audio power, and the new SYNCROSCAN HD Component Input for easy compatibility with digital cable TV boxes that use the YPrPb component video connections.The advanced PERFORMAX picture tubes, manufactured at Thomsonís Marion, Indiana color TV picture tube plant (the nationís largest color TV picture tube facility) feature a combination of leading-edge performance technologies. These include a Precision Focus HD Resolution Electron Gun and the Digital Precision Pitch (DPP) .78mm INVAR shadow mask that combine to support the resolution requirements of HDTV with the brightest possible picture.Projection HDTVThomson is also introducing two new widescreen projection HDTV sets, a RCA-brand 61-inch model P61310 and a new ProScan 65-inch model PS65000. Suggested retail pricing for both will be announced later in the year.Like the previously mentioned 38- and 34-inch direct-view models, the new HDTV projection sets are fully integrated with built-in capability for reception of analog, digital, and HDTV programming via both terrestrial broadcasting and DirecTV satellite broadcasts. The new 61-inch and 65-inch models will also feature SYNCROSCAN HD Component Input connections.Plasma TelevisionRounding out the ProScan line is the PSP4200, a widescreen digital model employing flat-screen plasma technology. The 42-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 PSP4200 is virtually all screen with the viewing area outlined by a slim border designed to resemble a picture frame.The PSP4200 offers a 160-degree viewing angle with a contrast ratio of 450:1 and an image of up to 16.7 million colors. The PSP4200 supports 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i digital TV formats, as well as standard analog NTSC signals. The ProScan plasma monitor also displays computer images ranging from VGA to SXGA quality. Included are S-Video, Composite, Component, and RGB inputs, as well as a pair of audio output jacks. A universal backlit remote is included.With a suggested retail price of $12,999, the ProScan Plasma Television also includes the popular PSHD105 HDTV set-top receiver and an 18-inch by 24-inch elliptical satellite antenna. The PSHD105 can receive over-the-air analog and digital TV signals, as well as standard and high-definition DirecTV service.HDTV Set-Top ReceiversA cost-effective approach to HDTV is afforded through Thomsonís digital HDTV receivers -- the RCA DTC100 and the ProScan PSHD105 (both suggested retail price $649). Designed to either convert digital signals for analog displays or pass high-definition signals to high-resolution monitors, the set-top HDTV receivers offer consumers the flexibility to upgrade their home entertainment system one component at a time.The DTC100 and PSHD105 set-top converters receive the same broad range of programming as Thomsonís fully integrated HDTV models, including all 18 Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) digital TV formats. When connected to analog TVs, the set-top device automatically converts the robust digital signal into an analog display that provides dramatically improved picture and sound capability. Connection options include an RGB-VGA interface output, RF output, two pair of A/V outputs, S-video output, telco modem connector, and optical audio output.High-Resolution MonitorsAn affordable option for many consumers will be digital high-resolution monitors that offer crisp images on traditional 4:3 aspect ratio screens. Four high-resolution rear projection digital monitors in 52-inch and 61-inch (diagonal) screen sizes along with three direct-view digital monitors in 32-inch and 36-inch screen sizes are planned for both the RCA and ProScan brands. The multimedia monitors ñ when connected to the RCA DTC100 or ProScan PSHD105 digital converter - will display HDTV-quality images in the traditional 4:3 picture format or as ""letterboxed"" widescreen images.Rear projection models include the RCA 52-inch MM52100 (suggested retail price $3,299), and 61-inch MM61100 (suggested retail price $3,699), the 52-inch ProScan PS52800 (suggested retail price $3,399) and the 61-inch ProScan PS61800 (suggested retail price $3,799). Direct-view units are the RCA 36-inch MM36100 (suggested retail price $2,499), along with the 36-inch ProScan PS36800 (suggested retail price $2,699), and 32-inch PS32800 (suggested retail price $2,199). Later this year, Thomson will offer a new line of Digital Hi-Res monitors with sleek silver finishes.""Thomsonís digital home entertainment strategy addresses the demands of a broad consumer base, from the top-of-the-line ProScan and RCA rear-projection HDTVs to the economical HDTV digital-set-top converter,"" said OíHara. ""As the nationís leader in color TV sales throughout the analog era, our company is dedicated to retaining that role in the digital era of consumer electronics.""About Thomson MultimediaWith sales over $6 billion in 1998 and 48,000 employees in over 30 countries, Thomson Multimedia (NYSE: TMS) is the fourth largest global supplier of consumer electronics products. The group has four main activities: Display and Components, Consumer Products, New Media Services, Patents and Licensing. Within its activities Thomson Multimedia develops, manufactures and sells television displays and components, consumer products such as televisions, VCRs, camcorders, audio and communication products, digital decoders, DVD-Video players and professional video equipment. Thomson Multimedia is the parent company of the U.S.-based Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc..

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