Convergent Announces Release of Prodokol™ Software Platform to Support Growing Demand for Digital Signage

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — March 27, 2006 — Convergent, a unit of Technicolor Network Services and part of the Services division of Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS), today announced the release of Prodokol^TM, a unique software platform that enables Convergent customers to efficiently manage targeted marketing and advertising campaigns to unique audiences.

“The emerging digital signage market is an exciting new communications environment for retailers, advertisers, and consumers,” said Ken Boyle, vice president of strategy and operations for out-of-home media at Convergent. “We have developed Prodokol to meet the unique market demand of enterprise clients wishing to create and distribute high-quality content and targeted messaging over a single delivery platform.”

The Prodokol software platform enables Convergent to provide a managed service to its clients, and eliminates the need for them to invest in a dedicated infrastructure and support staff required to operate and maintain a digital signage network. Instead, clients are able to focus on creating effective, targeted digital signage campaigns to influence the behaviors of their customers.  Clients can access the Prodokol software platform via a Web interface which allows them to:

• Create content dynamically.
• Target messages to specific displays within specific locations.
• Schedule the delivery of content.
• Automate entire workflows.
• Monitor and report back on the status of their networks.

House of Blues®, one of the nation’s leading concert promoters and the definitive brand in live music, has been utilizing the Prodokol software platform since March 2005 to efficiently manage the distribution of targeted messages within its club venues. It has also been integrated into House of Blues’ club house audio system to ensure the most effective mix of audio and video.

“Convergent’s Prodokol software platform provides us a unique blend of flexibility and control, allowing our local venue teams to target custom, dynamic messages to their venue, while maintaining our overall content and brand standards,” said Michael Hy, producer of media services at House of Blues.

#   #   #

About Convergent
Convergent, a unit of Technicolor Network Services, is the Intelligent Media Distribution^SM company. Convergent designs, installs, operates, and maintains custom media distribution networks for business television, interactive distance learning, and out-of-home advertising, such as digital signage. Throughout its history, the company has established processes and procedures, which combined with best-of-breed systems and software, result in the intelligent delivery of the right message, to the right place, at the right time.

Convergent recently joined Technicolor Network Services, part of the Services division of Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS), the world’s leading provider of services, systems, and technologies to the media and entertainment industries. Convergent now serves as the network hub for Technicolor Network Services’ North American operations, and is focused on developing new business in the out-of-home advertising (digital signage) segment, and upgrading existing corporate communications (BTV) and interactive distance learning (IDL) networks to digital platforms, while servicing other Thomson and Technicolor businesses.

Convergent provides services for over 70 digital media networks and 550,000 viewing locations. Clients include Advance Auto Parts, Bell World, Electronic Data Systems, FedEx, Kroger, Royal Bank of Canada, Screenvision, Wachovia, and other industry leaders. For more information, call 1-800-877-7804, or visit http://www.convergent.com.

About Technicolor Network Services
Technicolor Network Services, part of the Services division of Thomson, provides clients with broadcast playout services by offering an online digital content distribution network that supports multiple origination platforms, including cable, broadcast, and direct-to-home. In addition, Technicolor Network Services addresses the out-of-home marketplace with a full range of network design and management services. For more information:  http://www.technicolor.com .

Media Contact Information:
Kris M. Konrath
+1-770-369-9639
konrathk@convergent.com

Keith R. Pillow
+ 1-805-445-4254
keith.pillow@thomson.net

Season A. Skuro
+1-805-383-3245
season.skuro@thomson.net