Barco and Sony announce agreement to integrate LED screens into Sony installations

Date Announced: 01 Dec 2007 -- Barco and Sony announce agreement to integrate LED screens into Sony's Retail, Transport and Venue installations-- Addition of Barco's market-leading LED technology reinforces Sony's commitment to offering unparalleled choice and image quality Soccerex, South Africa -- Sony Professional Solutions Europe and Barco today announced an agreement that will allow Sony to offer its customers Barco LED screens, perimeter boards and other creative LED solutions as part of its Retail, Transport and Venues solution offering.Sony’s dedicated Retail, Transport and Venues division has worked with high profile customers such as Arsenal Football Club, FC Porto, La Poste of France and World Duty Free, Heathrow Terminal 5 to deliver end-to-end audiovisual solutions and expertise. On top of a portfolio of systems that include digital multimedia video networks and digital signage to intelligent security and customer tracking applications, the Sony Retail, Transport and Venues division also provides a range of services including consultancy, design, systems integration, training and support through the Sony Professional Solutions division. Barco is a global leader in visualization technology and a market leader in LED displays worldwide. With over ten years experience delivering large LED display solutions to the Sports and Out of Home Media (OHM) markets and over twenty years designing and producing specific visualization solutions for the broadcast market, Barco combines technology leadership with a wealth of market experience.Barco’s impressive client list includes Dubai Mall, FC Porto, Croke Park (Dublin), Wembley Stadium (London) and the Shanghai Stadium. From large format indoor and outdoor LED displays to fascia-boards and scoreboards, Barco displays can be tailor made to meet specific customer’s needs in both Sports and OHM applications. Eric Siereveld, Director Retail Transport and Venues, Sony Professional Solutions Europe said, “As organizations are faced with challenging conventional ways of reaching their customers, who are increasingly fragmented, they are looking to digital media solutions for fresh ideas. Our collaboration with the European market leader in large LED screens is a major milestone for our solutions business as we strive to offer our customers the greatest choice when it comes to capturing and communicating great content. Many people will still remember Sony Jumbotron products, with this agreement Sony can now once again offer its customers a diverse portfolio of solutions including large LED display screens.” Stephan Paridaen, President of Barco’s Media and Entertainment division said, “This agreement with Sony is strategic as it allows us to fulfill the needs of customers with large complex installations who are looking for a total end-to-end audio visual solution; from camera to display. The Barco/Sony collaboration is a natural fit as both companies have excellent reputations in manufacturing high quality products and offering customers best-in-class solution. We have been working closely together with Sony, and this agreement is a further step in the collaboration between two market leaders with a focus on delivering both top quality products and on-going service and support.” This agreement between Sony Professional Solutions Europe and Barco will allow customers more choice and integration flexibility in the Retail, Transport and Venues industries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. About Sony: Sony manufactures audio, video, communications and information technology products for the global consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, game and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be one of the world’s leading digital entertainment brands. Sony recorded consolidated global annual sales of EUR 55.83 billion (yen 8,296 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, based on an average market exchange rate for the same period of yen 148.6 to the EUR. It employs approximately 163,000 people worldwide. In Europe, the Sony Group recorded consolidated annual sales of EUR 13.71 billion (yen 2,038 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007. Sony Europe, headquartered at the Sony Center am Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, is responsible for the company's European electronics business and registered consolidated sales of EUR 9.12 billion for the same period. For more information on Sony Europe, please visit http://www.sony-europe.com and http://www.sony-europe.com/presscenter. About Sony Professional Solutions Europe Sony Professional Solutions Europe (PSE), a division of Sony United Kingdom Limited, is a leading supplier of solutions for broad horizontal communications, AV/IT, as well as magnetic and optical storage. PSE’s market segment solutions, service and support packages are targeted at organisations in the Healthcare, Media, Network Video Monitoring, Retail, Transport and Large Venue sectors. Device components such as camera sensors and modules, displays, batteries and semiconductors are targeted at OEM manufacturers and system integrators. Sony’s Professional Solutions business offers its customers access to the expertise and local knowledge of skilled professionals in every European country, as well as “best of breed” hardware, services and resources from other organisations. For more information please visit www.sonybiz.net. ‘Sony’ is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation. About Barco Barco, a global technology company, designs and develops visualization products for a variety of selected professional markets. Barco has its own facilities for Sales & Marketing, Customer Support, R&D and Manufacturing in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Barco (Euronext Brussels: BAR) is active in more than 90 countries with about 3800 employees worldwide. Barco posted sales of euro 751 million in 2006.

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