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The following information is true and accurate at the time of publication.
April 17,2002
HITACHI, MATSUSHITA, PHILIPS, SILICON
IMAGE, SONY, THOMSON AND TOSHIBA FORM WORKING GROUP TO DEFINE
DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY SPECIFICATION FOR AUDIO/VIDEO PRODUCTS
Proposed High Definition
Multimedia Interface (HDMI) Specification Builds Upon Multi-Industry
Support From Major Motion Picture Producers, System Operators
and CE Manufacturers
LOS ANGELES, April 16, 2002-
Hitachi, Matsushita Electric (Panasonic), Philips, Silicon
Image, Sony, Thomson, and Toshiba today announced the formation
of a working group to define the next-generation digital
interface specification for consumer electronics products.
Designed to usher in the new era of digital entertainment,
the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) specification
combines high-definition video and multi-channel audio in
one digital interface. This interface builds on the success
of DVI, offering new features while maintaining full backward
compatibility.
Leading global consumer electronics manufacturers are united
in developing this digital interface for future products
such as digital televisions, DVD players, set-top boxes
and other digital A/V products. HDMI offers significant
advantages over existing analog A/V interfaces. Its uncompressed,
digital format transports high-definition video and multi-channel
audio without processing or degrading them. By combining
audio with video on one cable, HDMI offers a convenient
connection alternative to the maze of existing analog A/V
cables. The new format uses a small, easy-to-use connector,
suitable for portable products like digital camcorders.
HDMI also ensures compatibility between products. Capitalizing
on the interoperability standards created in CEA (EIA/CEA-861x),
HDMI assures that the best video format is always sent from
source to display. In addition, HDMI will support many capabilities
of the AV.link interoperability protocol, popular in Europe.
Major motion picture producers, as well as satellite and
cable companies have applauded and welcomed High-bandwidth
Digital Content Protection (HDCP) for Digital Visual Interface
(DVI), an existing industry standard. The key underlying
technology in DVI will be the basis for the new HDMI specification.
Developed by Intel, with contributions from Silicon Image,
HDCP for HDMI will be available to HDMI adopters.
Andrew G. Setos, president of engineering for the Fox Group,
stated, "It is basic market dynamics that as mechanisms
are introduced which will protect digital content, consumers
will find their choices of content ever increasing. HDMI
with HDCP is just such a mechanism, providing designers
with a cost effective, protected digital solution to replace
legacy component analog connections."
Jerry Pierce, senior vice president, technology at Universal
Pictures, added, "We are encouraged to see these technology
manufacturers endorsing a protected baseband digital interconnect
specification that appeals to consumers and provides us
the ability to protect our content with HDCP. HDMI/HDCP
is one of the key technologies that makes D-VHS possible."
"As a strong supporter of DVI, we believe the formation
of this working group is an important step toward delivering
consumers a more robust selection of high-definition content
and digital receiving devices," said David Baylor, executive
vice president, DIRECTV, Inc. "By delivering signals in
an uncompressed format, HDMI enables the support of user
interfaces in electronic program guides and interactive
features for high-definition television, all of which benefit
the consumer."
Dave Kummer, senior vice president of engineering at EchoStar,
stated, "We are pleased to see that the HDMI working group
has formed to define the first uncompressed digital audiovisual
interface for consumer electronics devices. EchoStar was
among the first system operators to understand the many
benefits of an uncompressed digital video interface for
our DISH Network customers."
"Leading players in all links of the entertainment delivery
value chain have agreed on the HDMI specification as the
means to provide consumers with a new digital entertainment
experience. This is an incredible milestone that will revolutionize
home theater as we know it today," noted David Lee, president
and chief executive officer of Silicon Image. "HDMI will
feature our high-bandwidth Transition-Minimized Differential
Signaling (TMDSTM) technology
for audio and video. This technology soon will enable consumers
to view uncompressed digital video with integrated audio
in the comfort of their own living room. We are pleased
to be at the forefront in bringing the highest quality,
pure-digital experience to consumers."
HDMI will soon be openly available to the industry under
reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.
- About Hitachi
- Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one
of the world's leading global electronics companies,
with fiscal 2000 (ended March 31, 2001) consolidated
sales of 8,417 billion yen ($67.9 billion*). The company
manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including
computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power
and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi,
Ltd., please visit Hitachi's Web site at http://global.hitachi.com
* At an exchange rate of 124 yen to the dollar.
- About Matsushita (Panasonic)
- Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., best known
for its Panasonic, National, Technics and Quasar brand
names, is a worldwide leader in the development and
manufacture of electronics products for a wide range
of consumer, business and industrial needs. Based in
Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated sales
of US$61.45 billion for the fiscal year ended March
31, 2001. In addition to the Tokyo and other Japanese
stock exchanges (6752), Matsushita's shares are also
listed on the Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, New
York, Pacific (NYSE/PCX: MC) and Paris stock exchanges.
For more information, visit the Matsushita web site
at http://www.panasonic.co.jp/global/top.html.
- About Philips
- Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one
of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's
largest, with sales of EUR 32.3 billion in 2001. It
is a global leader in color television sets, lighting,
electric shavers, medical diagnostic imaging and patient
monitoring, and one-chip TV products. Its 189,000 employees
in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of
lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances,
components, semiconductors, and medical systems. Philips
is quoted on the NYSE (symbol: PHG), London, Frankfurt,
Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips
is located at www.news.philips.com
- About Silicon Image
- Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Silicon Image,
Inc. designs, develops and markets multi-gigabit semiconductor
and system solutions for a variety of communications
applications demanding high-bandwidth capability. With
its proprietary Multi-layer Serial Link (MSLTM)
architecture, Silicon Image is well positioned for leadership
in multiple mass markets including PCs, consumer electronics,
storage and networking. Currently, Silicon Image leads
the global PC/display arena with its innovative digital
interconnect technology, and is now emerging as a leading
player in the storage industry-offering robust, high-bandwidth
storage semiconductors and systems. For more information
on Silicon Image, visit www.siliconimage.com
- About Sony
- Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio,
video, game, communications and information technology
products for the consumer and professional markets.
With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and
on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be
a leading personal broadband entertainment company in
the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of
nearly $60 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31,
2001. Sony's Home Page URL: www.world.sony.com
- About Thomson
- With sales of 10.5 billion Euros (U.S. $ 9.3 billion)
in 2001 and 73,000 employees in more than 30 countries,
Thomson multimedia (Paris Euronext: 18453) (NYSE: TMS),
provides a wide range of video (and enabling) technologies,
systems, finished products and services to consumers
and professionals in the entertainment and media industries.
To advance and enable the digital media transition,
Thomson multimedia has five principal activities: Digital
Media Solutions, Displays and Components, Consumer Products,
Patents and Licensing, and New Media Services. The company
distributes its products under the THOMSON, RCA and
TECHNICOLOR brand names.
- About Toshiba
- Toshiba Corporation is a leader in information and
communications systems, electronic components, consumer
products and power systems. The company's integration
of these wide-ranging capabilities assures its position
as an innovator in advanced components, products and
systems. Toshiba has 188,000 employees worldwide and
annual sales of over US$47 billion. Visit Toshiba's
website at: www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm
| This
news release contains forward-looking information
within the meaning of federal securities regulations.
These forward-looking statements include statements
related to the development and anticipated completion
of the HDMI specification, its anticipated properties
and benefits, the anticipated ability of the companies
issuing this news release to develop and supply products
adhering to the HDMI specification, and the anticipated
timing of availability of the HDMI specification.
These forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties, including those described from time
to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) by the companies issuing this news
release, that could cause the actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking
statements. In particular, the proposed HDMI standard
may not be finalized or adopted when expected or at
all, these companies may not be able to develop and
supply products adhering to the HDMI standard, or
any such products may not be accepted by the market,
or produce revenue, margin or profit, and consumer
electronic manufacturers, motion picture producers
and system operators may prefer competing technologies,
including alternative technologies or specifications
that may be developed. The companies issuing this
news release assume no obligation to update this forward-looking
information. |
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