TECHNOLOGY & FACILITIES - Thomson arm takes on Grass Valley tag.

Acquisitive French group Thomson Multimedia has revealed its Broadcast Solutions division will now be known as Thomson Grass Valley following the merger earlier this year with the Grass Valley Group (GVG).The new name could be seen as a bit of an anti-climax after several months of speculation but, according to regional and UK managing director Dave Phillips, much thought has been given to the rebrand. The new name and look for the combined businesses will be unveiled at IBC in Amsterdam this September with the strapline 'Thomson Grass Valley - the one to watch'.Phillips said the decision 'signifies a move away from the traditional French style of business to a global organisation' and that three centres have been established around the world to provide '24/7 suppport'.The Thomson Broadcast/GVG merger was finalised in March this year, one of many acquisitions made by Thomson over the past two years that included the purchase of Technicolor, Vidfilm, Panasonic Disc Service Corporation and much of the Philips professional broadcast group (Broadcast, 8.3.02).However, Thomson was unable to retain the Philips brand under the terms of that deal.Phillips said the expansion through acquisition was not over yet. 'We want to be the number one player,' he said.Despite estimating an industry fall of 28.6 per cent in capital expenditure last year, Phillips said he expected a 34 per cent increase this year compared with last. 'It is important to be seen to lead the market so that customers turn to us when things pick up.'- Among the products on show at IBC in September this year will be the second release of the highly successful Spirit Datacine film scanner, originally launched by Philips Broadcast five years ago. This will be the first airing for Spirit 2. Phillips said the second release had been held back so that 'when it is shown, it is right'.