First Implementation of Dolby Digital Plus for HD Terrestrial TV

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) announced that Dolby® Digital Plus and Dolby Digital have been chosen by Frances new national high-definition terrestrial broadcasters for the Télévision Numérique Terrestre HD (TNT HD) platform, which was launched this week.

Initial services available on TNT HD include popular channels TF1 HD, France 2 HD, ARTE HD, Canal+ HD, and M6 HD. Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Digital audio will allow viewers to enjoy broadcasts in 5.1 surround sound as well as stereo.

Dolby Digital Plus is a sophisticated audio system based on Dolby Digital technology. It is designed specifically to adapt to the changing demands of future entertainment delivery while retaining backward compatibility with the existing Dolby Digital 5.1-channel home theater systems in use today.

HD is synonymous with improved, high-definition audio, said Jean-Pierre Lacotte, President of the HD Forum, France. Everyone has a right to good soundespecially those who have invested in home theater systemsand this new TNT HD service will provide superb HD images with 5.1 audio to match.

The performance and flexibility of Dolby Digital Plus is ideal for limited-bandwidth environments such as terrestrial broadcasts. Broadcasters can deliver excellent quality while retaining the ability to decode Dolby Digital broadcast bitstreams for compatibility with existing broadcast services.

TF1 is proud to launch HD over digital terrestrial TV and, being three channels in one multiplex of 24 Mbps, the Dolby codecs are critical to save the scarce resource of bandwidth in this constrained environment, said Gilles Maugars, CTO of TF1s Technology and IT Division. This is why TF1 HD will use Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus for the coding of its audio streams, because the efficiencies they provide will enable TF1 HD to broadcast 5.1 audio.

We have been working very closely with the broadcasters in France as they have prepared to launch their new HD services, said Tony Spath, Vice President, International Broadcast, Dolby Laboratories. The switch-on of TNT HD is a significant step forward because it is one of the first major terrestrial HD platforms on the air in Europe, and is also the first major broadcast application to utilize Dolby Digital Plus.

Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Digital are designed to provide consistent and predictable results throughout the broadcast chain to the consumers television, ensuring an excellent experience for the consumer and a high-efficiency solution for broadcasters.

The French HD forum specification requires that by December 2008 HD-ready TVs for sale in France must include Dolby Digital Plus and High Efficiency AAC (HE AAC) audio, emphasizing the importance of surround sound. Dolby recently announced its new Dolby Pulse technology, which is based on the HE AAC audio code standard. The Forum also expressed the preference of broadcasters for Dolby technology to deliver this experience, due to its compatibility with their production processes.

HDTVs from a wide range of manufacturers are already available in France with these technologies built in, as are a new selection of set-top boxes, which will allow French consumers to access the new TNT HD services.

About Dolby Laboratories

Dolby Laboratories (NYSE:DLB) is the global leader in technologies that are essential elements in the best entertainment experiences. Founded in 1965 and best known for high-quality audio and surround sound, Dolby innovations enrich entertainment at the movies, at home, or on the go. Visit www.dolby.com for more information.

Certain statements in this press release, including statements regarding the performance, capabilities, and impact of Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus; the adoption of these technologies with high-definition video and next-generation broadcasting; the anticipated or potential benefits that Dolby customers, manufacturers, broadcasters, and consumers may derive from these technologies; and the demand for these technologies, are "forward-looking statements" that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. The following important factors, without limitation, could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: risks that Dolby Digital Plus may not perform as anticipated; risks associated with successfully going on air with these technologies; risks associated with building market acceptance for high-definition audio technologies in general and Dolby technologies in particular; competition in the market for high-definition audio technologies; rapid changes in technical requirements for high-definition audio technologies; risks associated with introducing new technologies to broadcasters; risks associated with consumer demand for the latest audio technologies including surround sound broadcasts; rapid changes in hardware devices for receiving broadcasts; risks associated with having Dolby technologies adopted as industry standards; and other risks detailed in Dolby's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including the risks identified under the section captioned "Risk Factors" in its most recent Periodic Report on Form 10-Q or 10-K. Dolby disclaims any obligation to update information contained in these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. S08/20584 DLB-G

Contacts:

Dolby Laboratorios
Mark Price, 44-1793-842195 (Media)
mark.price@dolby.com

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