Thomson Reaffirms High Definition Leadership; Will Provide HDTV OB Vans to HBS, Host Broadcaster...

PARIS -- Customers from top European and Asian broadcast and production organizations join Thomson executives in high-profile HD discussion

Thomson (Euronext Paris:18453)(NYSE:TMS), the world leader in integrated solutions (technologies, equipment and services) for the media and entertainment

Thomson will outfit as many as seven mobile trucks with a large number of Grass Valley brand products to support the standard-definition and high-definition broadcasts of the soccer matches produced by HBS, which was also the host broadcaster of the 2002 FIFA World Cups(TM).

Thomson made its announcement during a day-long event focused on HD and the key role it's playing as the content creation, distribution and consumer markets accelerate their adoption of this format.

Almost the entire European High Definition (HD) mobile production fleet - which is currently covering the Euro 2004 soccer championships in Portugal and will head to Greece for the 2004 summer Olympics - has essentially standardized on Grass Valley(TM) cameras from Thomson.

"High definition production has risen dramatically in Europe and the U.S., with more than 40 channels now available to consumers in HD," said Marc Valentin, President of Thomson Broadcast & Media Solutions. "By offering services and products that stretch from content creation to the end consumer, Thomson has staked an important leadership position in this growing market."

In its broadcast equipment business, Thomson has launched approximately 30 new Grass Valley brand products specifically targeted at HD and multi-format production, which have already generated hundreds of millions of euros in orders. Grass Valley(TM) products played critical roles in other high-profile HD broadcasts this year, including the Super Bowl and Academy Awards(R) events in the U.S.

In its consumer business, Thomson is currently leveraging Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology to make its RCA and THOMSON brand HD televisions bigger, brighter and thinner. Thomson is also a key developer of HD set-top box technologies.

High Definition: A Market with High Potential for Thomson

Industry analysts expect content creators and distributors to spend nearly EUR 2.8 billion over the next four years on professional equipment and services in what is considered to be the first wave of the global transition to HD. Worldwide sales of HD TV sets are growing at roughly 33 percent annually, with a total of 26 million sets expected to be sold in the United States and Europe by 2008.

Thomson's Grass Valley(TM) brand broadcast products, Technicolor(R) services, and RCA(TM) and THOMSON(TM) brand HD consumer products are playing a key role in this transition. To highlight those roles, Thomson also hosted a top-flight panel of customers at today's events to discuss opportunities presented by the transition to HD.

To hear an audio replay of their comments, please visit http://www.thomsongrassvalley.com/preibc2004/.

Certain statements in this press release, including any discussion of management expectations for future periods, constitute forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements due to changes in global economic and business conditions, consumer electronics markets, and regulatory factors. More detailed information on the potential factors that could affect the financial results of Thomson is contained in Thomson's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Thomson

Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) is the leading provider of technology and service solutions for integrated entertainment and media companies. By capitalizing on and expanding its leadership positions at the intersection of entertainment, media and technology, Thomson provides end-to-end solutions to content creators, video network operators, manufacturers and retailers through its Technicolor, Grass Valley, THOMSON and RCA brands. For more information: www.thomson.net

Thomson's Video Network Solutions division develops video and film technologies, products and services sold to all major Hollywood studios, all major television, satellite, and cable broadcasters under the Technicolor and Grass Valley brand-names for the delivery of analog and digital entertainment. The division also includes Thomson's Broadband Access Products Business, which develops technologies and products for broadband and telecommunication networks to deliver digital entertainment and data to consumers and businesses.

For information about Grass Valley products from Thomson please visit www.thomsongrassvalley.com.