Several Internet news sources have reported that Thomson is in negotiations to purchase the assets of Thales Broadcast & Multimedia.
This includes Thales’ Internet Protocol (IPTV), mobile TV, digital TV and digital radio broadcasting systems and transmission equipment.
Sending video and audio over IPTV systems and to mobile devices is an area that Thomson has expressed considerable interest in as part of its two-year growth strategy.
In related news, Alcatel is reportedly in talks with Thales to buy the remaining portion of the business not purchased by Thomson. The other portion of the company supplies satellite and compression technology used for military applications and systems.
In addition to owning its Grass Valley brand of broadcast and production systems and technology, Thomson produces TV set-top box decoders for cable. This new acquisition would allow it to solidify its position in the emerging market of triple-play services now being offered by cable TV providers, and take advantage of next-generation platforms that leverage advanced codecs.
