With US sales of HDTV products expected to break the four million unit mark this year, Thomson has announced that it is shipping a new series of RCA and RCA Scenium high-definition television products to retailers. They will enable easy home recording of HDTV and offer consumers outstanding microdisplay picture performance with a new bright, lightweight 50-inch DLP HDTV.

An official release informs that the expanded lineup of HDTV products illustrates the company's strategic offering of products and services throughout the "video chain" that connects the entertainment industry to consumers. Thomson claims to be a leader in all segments of the HDTV video chain -- helping movie studios with high-definition post-production and film mastering, offering broadcasters and network operators products to create and distribute high-definition content, and selling a wide range of HDTV products for videophile consumers.

Among the new products is the RCA Scenium 50-inch Digital Light Processing HDTV (model HDLP50W151) and a small set-top hard-disc recording device (DVR10) that finally lets viewers affordably record HDTV programmes for later viewing. In addition, the company is offering new HDTV set-top receivers, a DVD recorder, a new RCA Scenium 50-inch Plasma display, two new RCA LCD displays with integrated DVD players, and the all-in-one mp3 RCA Home Theater Jukebox that delivers six-channel audio and living-room management of digital audio files.

The RCA Scenium HDLP50W151 integrated, widescreen HDTV Set incorporates the Texas Instruments' Mustang/HD2 chip and microdisplay light engine, along with Thomson's Hi-Pix video processing picture system resulting in outstanding picture performance. With integrated tuning/decoding, this HDTV Set receives both terrestrial HDTV broadcasts and in-the-clear local broadcasts on digital cable and has Ethernet connection for easy on line Internet surfing.

The RCA DVR10 digital video recorder features an 80GB hard-disc drive that enables consumers to record up to nine hours of high-definition programming and up to 40 hours of standard definition digital TV programming when connected to a copy-protected 1394 digital TV source device. The unit can be programmed to record programmes up to 24 hours in advance, scheduled to record daily or can record a current programme.

The RCA Scenium PHD50500 Plasma HDTV monitor has XGA resolution (1280x768) and features the Hi-Pix video processing picture system, a high purity screen filter to reduce glare and 10-bit display technology. This is capable of delivering shading and colouring options. A 3D Y/C Digital Comb filter eliminates dot and edge crawl and provides for better transition between scene changes.

Thomson provides a wide range of video (and enabling) technologies, systems, finished products and services to consumers and professionals in the entertainment and media industries. The company has four principal divisions: content and networks, consumer products, components, and licensing.