Technicolor Digital Cinema Strengthens Leadership Team with Appointment Of Curt Behlmer as Senior Vice President of Digital Cinema Operations

Experienced Digital Cinema, Entertainment Industry Executive to Spearhead Company’s Deployment of Digital Projection Systems in 5,000 Screens Throughout U.S. and Canada

Reinforcing its global leadership in digital cinema, Technicolor Digital Cinema, part of the Services division of Thomson (Euronext 18453; NYSE: TMS), today announced it has appointed long-time motion picture and television industry executive Curt Behlmer to the new role of senior vice president of digital cinema operations. Behlmer will manage all operational activities associated with Technicolor Digital Cinema’s deployment of digital projection systems in 5,000 screens throughout the United States and Canada over the next three to four years.

Based in the company’s offices in Burbank, Calif., Behlmer is responsible for developing and implementing strategic operating initiatives for Technicolor Digital Cinema’s core service and distribution platforms, and overseeing all physical operations related to these activities and the company’s ongoing deployment of digital projection systems in the United States and Canada.

As previously announced by Thomson, Technicolor Digital Cinema’s initial deployment of digital projection systems is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2006 with a commercial beta test covering 200-250 screens in North America. In total, Thomson intends to introduce systems into at least 15,000 digitally-equipped screens in the United States and Canada over the next 10 years through the preliminary rollout and additional phases. The company recently announced an agreement with Century Theatres, Inc. calling for the theatre chain to participate in the aforementioned beta test beginning in the first quarter of 2006. Thomson has also signed digital cinema equipment usage agreements with DreamWorks SKG, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal Pictures, and Warner Bros to advance its plans for the distribution of digital cinema content and systems throughout North America.

“Curt’s specific expertise in the digital cinema space, as well as his extensive experience in working with major Hollywood film studios, technology providers, and other important industry stakeholders, make him ideally suited to oversee business operations for Technicolor Digital Cinema,” said Joe Berchtold, president of Technicolor Electronic Distribution Services, and head of Technicolor Digital Cinema. “His proven track record of success in the development and deployment of advanced technology solutions for motion picture exhibition will serve the company extremely well as it executes its North American digital cinema initiative in the coming months.”

Behlmer brings more than 25 years of experience in the media and entertainment industries to the company as an authority in the development of technology applications and systems solutions. Immediately prior to his arrival at Technicolor Digital Cinema, he was managing partner and chief technology officer of Digital Cinema Ventures, a firm specializing in providing qualified technical resources to enable and support the film industry’s conversion to digital delivery and exhibition. Previously, he was senior vice president of technology at Soundelux Entertainment Group, where he was responsible for the company’s myriad technology initiatives, including those for special venue entertainment and digital cinema applications. Behlmer has also held executive positions with Warner Bros. Studio Facilities, Warner Hollywood Studios, Ryder Sound Services, Inc., and Lions Gate Films.

Behlmer is past chairman of the Digital Cinema Technology Committee for the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). Additionally, he is a long-time member of the Audio Engineering Society, the Hollywood Post Alliance, the Association of Moving Image Archivists, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Behlmer also served as governor of the Sound Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and he is currently a member of the Sound Branch Executive Committee, the Scientific and Technical Awards Committee, and the Theater Standards Committee for the Academy. In 2002, he received the John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation for his long-standing support and service to the Academy and the motion picture industry.

Technicolor Digital Cinema Contacts: Season A. Skuro
Technicolor - Public Relations
2255 North Ontario Street, Suite 300
Burbank, CA 91504
(818) 371-0006 Direct
(818) 260-4013 Fax
season.skuro@technicolor.com

About Technicolor Digital Cinema: With more than 95 years of experience in entertainment innovation, Technicolor serves an international base of entertainment, software, and gaming customers. The company is a leading provider of production, postproduction, and distribution services to content creators and distributors. Technicolor is one of the world’s largest film processors; the largest independent manufacturer and distributor of DVDs (including Blu-ray Disc); and a leading global supplier of set-top boxes and gateways. The company also operates an Intellectual Property and Licensing business unit. Technicolor Digital Cinema Directory page Technicolor Digital Cinema Web Site About Thomson: Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS) provides services, systems and equipment, and technology to help its Media & Entertainment clients — content creators, content distributors, and users of its technology — realize their business goals and optimize their performance in a rapidly-changing technology environment. The Group is the preferred partner to the Media & Entertainment Industries through its Technicolor, Grass Valley, RCA, and Thomson brands. Thomson Directory page

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