Thomson Renews Contract to Supply Cable Set-Top Boxes to Chinese Cable TV Operator Dalian Tiantu

Contract renewal with major Chinese cable TV operator marks further growth of Thomson media and entertainment activities in the region

Paris — Thomson (Euronext 18453; NYSE: TMS) today announced the renewal of its contract to supply Chinese cable operator Dalian Tiantu Cable TV with DCI1000E digital cable set top boxes, further to the original agreement concluded via Thomson CITIC Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (TCDT) in August 2006.

Having trialled digital TV for several years, the Chinese government is now promoting the rapid expansion of digital cable systems in cities across China. Through TCDT, Thomson is helping the Chinese Government to achieve its objective by providing its best-in-class cable set-top box technology to operators throughout the region.

The Chinese government and media have a five-year plan to transform China into a ‘nation of innovation’ and to produce video, music, web and information content for the burgeoning digital broadcasting networks. With Thomson’s support, Dalian Tiantu Cable TV is working to provide digital services to the 1.1 million analog subscribers located in the Liaoning province in North Eastern China.

“At Dalian we are committed to providing our existing and prospective customers with the most compelling and up-to-date digital interactive services and applications. In renewing our contract with Thomson, we will continue to benefit not only from pioneering technology in the field of digital content delivery but also from their long and proven track record in working with broadband operators across the world” said Mr. Shao Xin, GM at Dalian Tiantu Cable TV Network.

“The Thomson DCI1000 is designed for cost-effective and large-scale deployments and is the perfect technology to support the Chinese migration from analog to digital cable TV transmission,” said Frédéric Kurkjian, Vice President of Thomson’s Cable Premises Systems. “The renewal of our contract with Dalian Tiantu Cable TV is further evidence of Thomson’s ongoing commitment to help drive digital adoption in the region and a demonstration of Dalian’s confidence in the high quality of our set-top box products and our ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions to order.”

TCDT is a joint venture between Thomson, CITIC Technology Co Ltd, a technology investor which is fully owned by financial and industrial conglomerate CITIC group, and the Academy of Broadcasting Sciences (ABS), a research and development organization reporting to China’s State Administration for Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).