French media conglom Thomson, struggling with debt and in need of cash, is adopting a new strategy that puts Technicolor and its customers at the top of the company's pecking order.
Thomson announced Thursday that it is refocusing its corporate strategy on serving content creators. The company cited "the strength of the Technicolor brand with film and television studios, and its technological assets" as cornerstones of that strategy as it looks to aid its customers with the transition to digital distribution and an electronic environment.
Full details of the company's strategic shift will be unveiled on March 10. In the meantime, a Thomson spokesman took umbrage at Internet reports suggesting a threat to Technicolor's DVD manufacturing business, calling that unit "a very well-run activity" and emphasizing that it fits the new focus and is profitable.
However, Thomson is exiting another movie-related business in which it's made a mark, selling Grass Valley, maker of the Viper digital camera and an important technology vendor for broadcasters.
As a result, perhaps the best-known digital camera, the Thomson Viper, won't be the Thomson Viper much longer.
Grass Valley was recently awarded two technical Emmys, and its value could well receive an Oscar bump. If "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," which was shot with the Viper, wins for cinematography, it would be the first feature shot with a digital camera to take home the Acad's lensing statuette.
Company is also selling its Premiere Retail Networks, which supplies digital signage for retailers.
The sale of Grass Valley and PRN should also help with Thomson's balance sheet, which shows debt exceeding cash by e2.1 billion ($2.72 billion).
Contact David S. Cohen at
david.cohen@variety.com