| HDMI FOUNDERS HITACHI, MATSUSHITA (PANASONIC), PHILIPS, SILICON IMAGE, SONY, THOMSON AND TOSHIBA RELEASE FINAL HDMI 1.0 SPECIFICATION AMID BROAD INDUSTRY SUPPORT 9 December, 2002
Hitachi SUNNYVALE, Calif., December 9, 2002-- High-Definition Multimedia InterfaceTM (HDMITM) Founders Hitachi, Matsushita Electric (Panasonic), Royal Philips Electronics, Silicon Image, Sony Corporation, Thomson and Toshiba Corporation today released the final 1.0 specification for HDMI, the next-generation digital interface for consumer electronics. HDMI enables the secure distribution of uncompressed high-definition video and multi-channel audio in a single cable, providing consumers with a broader array of high-quality digital content while dramatically simplifying ease of use. With the availability of the HDMI v 1.0 Specification, manufacturers can now develop and bring to market HDMI-compliant products to usher in a new era of previously unreleased, premium high-definition content. The HDMI initiative enjoys broad industry support from major motion picture producers Fox and Universal, satellite companies DIRECTV and EchoStar, cable companies and consumer electronics manufacturers. Because digital television (DTV) signals remain in digital format, HDMI assures that pristine high-definition images retain the highest video quality from the source all the way to the display. HDMI combines high-definition video and multi-channel audio in a single digital interface with a bandwidth of up to 5 Gigabits/second. Benefits include uncompressed digital quality, fewer cables and a small, user-friendly connector suitable for a wide range of CE components. In addition, HDMI capitalizes on the interoperability standards created by the CEA and supports many of the capabilities of the AV.link interoperability protocol popular in Europe, such as control of multiple source devices through a single remote pointed at the DTV. HDMI with High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) technology solves the issue of protecting high-value content from unauthorized reproduction and distribution. "As digital media forms a bigger piece of the consumer entertainment experience, many users are overwhelmed by the complexity of interconnecting all the pieces," explained Steve Kleynhans, vice president, META Group. "HDMI, as an industry standard, will provide some measure of relief while providing the quality users have come to demand, encouraging the adoption of new types of digital entertainment." A growing number of DTVs and set-top boxes on the market today already feature Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connections. HDMI builds upon the capabilities of DVI, adding a number of attractive new features designed specifically for consumer electronics applications while maintaining full backward compatibility. Parties interested in designing HDMI-based products may access the HDMI 1.0 Specification at www.hdmi.org. About the HDMI Founders Comprised of Hitachi, Matsushita Electric (Panasonic), Royal Philips Electronics, Silicon Image, Sony Corporation, Thomson and Toshiba Corporation, the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) Founders have joined together to define a next-generation digital interface specification for consumer electronics products. HDMI is also supported by major motion picture producers, as well as satellite and cable companies. For more information about the HDMI specification and the HDMI Founders, visit www.hdmi.org This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of federal securities regulations. These forward-looking statements include statements related to the availability and anticipated features of the HDMI specification, its anticipated properties and benefits and the anticipated ability of the companies issuing this news release to develop and supply products adhering to the HDMI specification or HDMI with HDCP. 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 adopted, these companies may not be able to develop and supply products adhering to the HDMI specification or HDMI with HDCP, 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.
Press Contacts Hitachi Matsushita (Panasonic) Philips Silicon Image Sony Corporation Thomson Toshiba Corporation
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