CBS and RCA Join Forces To Present Super Bowl XXXV and AFC Playoffs in HDTV

http://news.excite.com:80/news/pr/000817/in-rca-cbs-super-bowl

NEW YORK and INDIANAPOLIS /PRNewswire/ — CBS Television and THOMSON multimedia’s RCA brand have entered into an advertising agreement for Thomson (NYSE:TMS) to underwrite the costs of producing high-definition coverage of Super Bowl XXXV as well as the four AFC playoff games.

Produced by CBS, the five live HDTV telecasts will be produced and transmitted independent of the regularly scheduled CBS football coverage being broadcast on the traditional analog network. All NFL HDTV programming will be broadcast in 1920 x 1080i, the highest-definition widescreen digital television format.

The five games are: AFC Wildcard: Sunday, December 31, 2000; AFC Division playoffs: Saturday, January 6, and Sunday, January 7, 2001; The AFC Championships: Sunday, January 14 and Super Bowl XXXV, Sunday January 28, from Tampa, Florida.

“CBS Sports is pleased to partner with Thomson and further the network’s position as a leader in the digital sports television area,” said Sean McManus, President, CBS Sports. “From primetime to the best in sports television to the most watched television event of the year, CBS continues to create more opportunities than other network for viewers to enjoy high-definition television in all dayparts.”

“As the consumer electronics sponsor for the NFL and a leading manufacturer of digital television products, RCA is the ideal company to bring the finale of the football season to homes in HDTV,” said Tom Wardrop, Vice President – Advertising, Americas for RCA. “The Super Bowl is the most watched program all year on television, and we expect that America’s favorite broadcast will spur interest in America’s favorite TV brand — RCA. Once football fans see their favorite games in HDTV, they’ll never want to go back to the same old screen,” Wardrop said.

Thirty-one of CBS’s owned and affiliated stations are currently broadcasting in digital, covering approximately 45% of the nation. By the end of the year, CBS expects to be transmitting digital programming across approximately 41 stations, reaching approximately 58% of the U.S.

The consumer electronics industry’s most comprehensive selection of digital television products is available from RCA, the brand that introduced commercial television service. RCA digital TV products include an affordable set-top DTC100 HDTV receiver ($649 suggested retail price). The versatile and affordable DTC100 receives over-the-air analog and digital broadcasts, as well as standard and high-definition services from the DIRECTV satellite system.

RCA also offers a line of projection and direct-view Digital High-Resolution Monitors and has just introduced a new, fully-integrated 38-inch widescreen HDTV set ($3,799 suggested retail price). The 38-inch RCA HDTV is now shipping to retailers and allows viewers to watch over-the-air analog and digital programming from local broadcasters as well as standard digital and high-definition programs from the DIRECTV satellite service.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially form those expected are the following: business conditions and general economic conditions; competitive factors such as pricing and marketing efforts of rival companies; timing of product introductions; ability of contract manufacturers to meet product price objectives and delivery schedules; legislative, regulatory, and industry initiatives that may affect planned or actual product features and marketing methods; and the pace and success of product research and development. For more information on the potential factors that could affect the company’s financial results, please review the SEC filings of the company.

About THOMSON multimedia:

With sales of 6.7 billion Euros (U.S. $6.5 billion) in 1999 and 55,000 employees in more than 30 countries, THOMSON multimedia, is the world’s fourth largest producer of consumer electronics. The Group has four principal activities: Displays and Components, Consumer Products, New Media Services, and Patents and Licensing. THOMSON multimedia engineers, manufactures, and markets display components and consumer products such as televisions, VCRs, audio systems, digital decoders, DVD players and professional video equipment under the popular RCA and THOMSON brand names. THOMSON multimedia is listed in the Paris (Sicovam: 18453) and New York (NYSE:TMS) stock exchanges. THOMSON multimedia is the parent company of the U.S.-based Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. For more information: http://www.thomson-multimedia.com

Contact: Dana McClintock of CBS Corporation, 212-975-1077; or LeslieAnne Wade of CBS Sports, 212-975-5171; or Dave Arland of RCA, 317-587-4450