Thomson Announces New Digital Cable Set-Top Box for German Market; Certification from Premiere, Germany's Leading Pay-TV Operator; Applicable for Kabel Deutschland, Europe's Largest Cable Operator

Business Wire, Nov 17, 2005

PARIS -- Thomson (Euronext Paris:18453)(NYSE:TMS)

Will Drive Deployment of Thomson Cable Set-Top Boxes in Dynamic German Market

Thomson (Euronext Paris:18453)(NYSE:TMS), today announced that its DCI1500G cable set-top box is deployable on the network of Kabel Deutschland, Germany's leading cable operator and has been certified compliant by Pay-TV operator Premiere. Thomson has thus demonstrated its ability to provide best-in-class set-top box technology for the migration to all-digital cable TV across Germany. Thomson will begin rolling out the DCI1500G model to cable subscribers in Q1/2006. The launch of this product reaffirms Thomson's strategic priority of delivering cutting-edge devices and solutions to its media and entertainment client base.

The Thomson DCI1500G solution offers KDG cable customers a cost-effective and value-added set-top box and underlines KDG's desire to lead the migration to digital cable TV in Germany which is due to be completed by 2010 as mandated by the German government. With over 19 million homes connected to cable TV services, Germany has Europe's largest cable subscriber base. To support the expansion of KDG's digital cable packages, Thomson will launch the set-top box into electronics retailers throughout the country.

Frederic Kurkjian, Vice President of the worldwide cable business activity within Thomson's Systems and Equipment Division; "With some 10 million homes connected in Germany, KDG is Europe's largest network operator and has exciting and ambitious plans to deliver digital services to their customer base. As a leading global provider of triple-play-over-cable solutions, Thomson is ideally positioned to help KDG deliver on this vision."

"Having the right set-top box technology available to customers is a critical component for the successful development of enhanced all-digital services via our cable network," said Manuel Cubero, Managing Director at Kabel Deutschland GmbH. We are happy to welcome Thomson to the growing German cable market. Thomson's in-depth understanding of the digital set-top box market and multiple play technologies will also help us to realise our commitments to new services such as the seamless bundling of voice, video and data, High Definition TV and PVR (Personal Video Recording)."

Technical Features

Responding to the content protection concerns of European broadband operators, the DCI1500 features Nagravision's(TM) CAK6.0G digital security platform and conditional access to protect against hacking and piracy. The STB provides a multitude of features for digital TV subscribers, including access to free and Pay-TV programmes, home cinema-quality audio and a comprehensive seven day electronic program guide. It comes with three language options - German, English and Turkish - and offers family-oriented functions such as parental control channel blocking with a pin-code system.

Some of the statements contained in this press release, including statements by the management in relation to future expectations, represent "forward-looking statements" in the sense of the "Safe Harbor Statement" by the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These types of forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions on the part of the management and are subject to a range of factors and uncertainties which may lead to a considerable deviation of the results actually achieved from the expectations outlined either explicitly or implicitly in the forward-looking statements. This may be due to changes in global economic conditions, industry developments, a shift in the competitive situation or the passing of new legislation. More detailed information on the factors which may influence Thomson's financial results can be found in the documentation submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

About Thomson - Partner to the Media & Entertainment Industries

Thomson (Euronext Paris:18453)(NYSE:TMS) provides services, systems and equipment, and technology 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.

Thomson's Access Platforms and Gateways (AP&G) activity, part of the company's Systems & Equipment division, is a leading supplier of digital entertainment receivers to the world's major satellite and terrestrial broadcasters. It is also a major innovator in the provision of digital set-top boxes and high speed modems to cable operators. In addition, it is one of the leading suppliers of high-speed modems and gateways, Internet Protocol (IP) set top boxes, IP system integration services and telephones to telecom operators and ISPs around the globe. Also part of Thomson's Access Platforms & Gateways Business Unit are subsidiaries Inventel and Cirpack. Complementing Thomson's offering in IP telephony and triple play services (voice, video and data), Inventel is a European leader in home gateways for fixed broadband network operators and in wireless voice and data communications (DECT, WiFi, Bluetooth), and Cirpack is the European leading provider of softswitch platforms.