CANAL+ Group and Philips announce major co-operation to drive HDTV introduction in France

October 20, 2005

Amsterdam - The Netherlands, Oct 20, 2005 - CANAL+ Group and Philips are teaming up to roll out High-Definition Television (HDTV) broadcasting in France. The agreement brings together Europe’s leading consumer electronics manufacturer with France’s leading pay-TV operator.

HDTV sets are a key component in Philips’ advanced home entertainment systems. Both CANAL+ and Philips are seeing strong demand for higher picture and sound quality, along with easier operation for the broad range of channels and services that HDTV will bring. This needs close co-operation between broadcast and TV equipment makers, and CANAL+ and Philips will together develop a range of differentiated services and products. This will include the HDTV set-top boxes that will decode HD programs from CANAL+. Philips plans to start delivering the ‛HD MediaSat+’ in the first half of 2006 to support the HD CANAL+ LE BOUQUET launch, and the ‛HD MediaSat+ PVR’ (a combination of Set Top Box and Personal Video Recorder) from mid 2006.

Philips starred at CANAL+ Yearly Convention

Philips recently starred at the CANAL+ Yearly Convention in Paris, exclusively showing HDTV pictures to the 1200 most important French consumer electronics dealers. Philips is now demonstrating the superb picture quality of HDTV in 500 French outlets. Equipment includes HD-ready FlatTVs, HD generators, DVP 9000 state-of-the-art DVD players and HDTV set-top boxes showing the CANAL+ HD trailer through the ASTRA satellite.

With all the separate parts of the HDTV supply chain (broadcasting equipment, program content, and receivers) now in place, Philips is investing heavily with individual broadcasters and operators to bring the next generation of television systems to viewers throughout the world. The agreement with CANAL+ Group will help the French trade partners of both companies to introduce HDTV to the French market.

Lucas Covers, Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer at Philips, remarked: “This is a sign of the leading positions achieved by both CANAL+ and Philips in HDTV, which the agreement extends even further. The co-operation with CANAL+ will be a major driver in bringing High Definition TV to the market in France. Philips already has a wide range of ‘HD-ready’ TV products that can receive HDTV transmission, and will be extending this range even further during the year”

“HDTV is the closest the industry has come to viewing a scene with real-life clarity, like looking out from a ‘window onto the world’. It shows incredibly sharp images and breathtaking detail. With picture quality noticeably better even than today’s DVDs, new HDTV transmissions are seeing rapid acceptance worldwide”, continued Covers.

“High Definition TV stands at the crossroads between high-quality content and state-of-the-art technology,” said Guy Lafarge, Executive Vice-President, Distribution at CANAL+ Group. “With exclusive, premium programs, particularly cinema and sport, and a 20-year history in pioneering pay-TV, CANAL+ Group is delighted to team-up with Europe’s market leader, Philips, to bring HDTV to our subscribers.”

FlatTV is a trademark of Royal Philips Electronics.
CE Communications Department
Philips Consumer Electronics

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About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lifestyle and technology, delivering products, services and solutions through the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 125,800 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2006, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, personal care and home appliances, as well as consumer electronics. News from Philips is located at
+ www.philips.com/newscenter.

 

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