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Thomson multimedia and DIRECTV Latin America announced today the extension of an agreement in which Thomson will continue to serve as the primary supplier of set-top receiver systems for the DIRECTV* satellite entertainment service in all markets of South America and the Caribbean, (excluding Puerto Rico).

DIRECTV is the leading satellite entertainment service in Latin America, offering 325 video and audio channels of digital quality programming to more than 1.3 million customers in 27 countries. Thomson multimedia has served as the lead system integrator and leading supplier of hardware for DIRECTV in Latin America since the service was launched in the region in 1996. To date, Thomson multimedia has shipped over 2 million digital receiver/decoders to Latin American markets.

"Today's announcement reinforces the commitment that Thomson multimedia shares with DIRECTV Latin America for delivering the broadest scope of quality home entertainment services to its customers," said Thomson multimedia's Enrique Rodriguez, Senior Vice President – Multimedia Products Worldwide. "Over the past five years, we have worked closely with DIRECTV to assure that their customers experience the full benefits of digital technology with significantly enhanced picture and sound performance."

The DIRECTV satellite systems manufactured by Thomson multimedia under the agreement are all equipped for interactive applications that further expand the entertainment offering for customers. DIRECTV Latin America has the ability to download applications via satellite directly to the receivers for interactive services such as enhanced program and customer service information, local weather reports, games, and banking applications accessed via their remote control or an optional keyboard.

"The latest agreement with Thomson multimedia results from a long-term close relationship that enables DIRECTV Latin America to further expand the wide array of entertainment and information services already offered to our customers," said DIRECTV Latin America's Gary D. Genaw, Vice President of Planning & Logistics. "Thomson multimedia has demonstrated that it shares our dedication to enhancing the subscriber's viewing experience and providing them with advanced, state-of-the-art services."

Thomson multimedia pioneered direct broadcast satellite receiver systems with the 1994 introduction of the RCA DIRECTV system in the continental U.S. Thomson multimedia is a global leader in the manufacture and marketing of digital decoders with more than 15 million systems sold over the past seven years.

The systems designed for DIRECTV Latin America include a set-top digital receiver/decoder and remote control. The systems are manufactured at Thomson multimedia's high-tech facility in Juarez, Mexico, as well as the Manaus, Brazil facility which was established in 1999 to support markets in Brazil and Argentina.

About Thomson Multimedia
With sales of 9.1 billion Euros (U.S. $8.3 billion) in 2000 and 67,000 employees in more than 30 countries, Thomson Multimedia (Paris Sicovam: 18453) (NYSE: TMS) provides a wide range of technologies, systems, finished products and services to consumers and professionals of the entertainment and media industries. To advance and enable the digital media transition, Thomson Multimedia has five principal activities: Displays and Components, Digital Media Solutions, Consumer Products, New Media Services, and Patents and Licensing. The company distributes its products under the popular THOMSON and RCA brand names. For more information: www.thomson-multimedi.com http://www.thomson-multimedia.com/.

Source: Thomson