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Panasonic to Offer FOCUS Enhancements’ FireStore DV File Converter Pro With Its DVCPRO P2 Broadcast Products


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Panasonic Names FOCUS as New P2 Partner, Strengthening Its Strategic Alliances for Delivering Innovative Digital Video News Gathering and Broadcast Solutions -- Demo in Panasonic NAB Booth #C3617 From April 17 - 21
CAMPBELL, CA -- 03/31/2005 -- FOCUS Enhancements Inc. (NASDAQ: FCSE), a worldwide leader in video production and conversion technology, today announced that Panasonic will offer an enhanced version of FOCUS’ industry-leading file conversion software, FireStore DV File Converter Pro, which adds MXF P2 support for Panasonic’s broadcast DVCPRO P2 products. The FireStore DV File Converter Pro offers increased support to the Panasonic P2 Partner Program, which includes other leading hardware and software companies such as Apple, Avid, Pinnacle, Thomson/Grass Valley and Quantel, by allowing users to bridge P2 with DV-based solutions.

The P2 Series of equipment is based on Panasonic’s new PCMCIA-sized solid-state memory card, offering cost-effective media-less operation. The P2 Partner Program was created to provide broadcast video professionals with seamless P2 compatible video and technology solutions from a variety of suppliers.

“P2 is the integration of the very best in AV and IT worlds, transforming news and production workflows and introducing a new era in non-linear acquisition,” said John Baisley, President of Panasonic Broadcast. “FOCUS is a recognized leader in the professional DV hardware and software markets, and its FireStore DV File Converter Pro provides a critical software bridge that allows our users to edit and distribute their footage in all of the most popular formats using solutions they already have in place.”

“Panasonic’s P2 solutions offer enhanced, in-the-field capabilities which, in conjunction with the P2 partnerships, greatly reduce production time -- ultimately helping crews and shooters excel,” said Brett Moyer, President and CEO of FOCUS Enhancements. “The FireStore DV File Converter Pro enables video professionals to quickly and easily convert the Panasonic MXF video for editing and broadcast, bringing unprecedented mobility, performance and convenience to news gathering and production.”

FOCUS Enhancements’ easy-to-use FireStore DV File Converter Pro software is a video file converter developed for broadcasters and other video professionals using the DV, DVCAM, and DVCPRO formats. Panasonic P2 Cameras and decks capture video and audio in the industry-standard Material Exchange Format (MXF). MXF files include audio/video content and related metadata (production notes, camera settings, time code positions, etc.) as well as an indexing capability for random retrieval. With FireStore DV File Converter Pro, it is possible to quickly and easily convert the P2 MXF file format to or from the most popular DV-based NLE file formats on the market, including QuickTime, AVI, Raw DV, and Avid DV-OMF among others, allowing seamless integration with today’s top editing applications.

FireStore DV File Converter Pro was developed exclusively for Panasonic Broadcast to support quick and easy MXF file format exchange with popular DV editing applications. Focus also has available The FireStore DV Conversion Suite, a powerful group of PC programs that supports post-acquisition multiple file and standards conversion needs. Customers acquiring video to tape, solid-state memory, optical, or hard disk systems that are not based on FOCUS Enhancements’ Direct To Edit Technology (DTE) can use the FOCUS Enhancements FireStore DV File Converter and FOCUS Enhancements FireStore DV Standards Converter for their file conversion needs. More information on FireStore DV Conversion Suite can be found http://www.focusinfo.com/products/firestore/dvconversionsuite/dvcsuite.html .

FOCUS Enhancements will showcase its full line of “glass-to-glass” video production workflow products at NAB in Booths #SL505 and #SL4255E.

About FOCUS Enhancements, Inc.

FOCUS Enhancements, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCSE) is a leading designer of world-class solutions in advanced, proprietary video technology. Headquartered in Campbell, CA, FOCUS Enhancements designs, develops, and markets video solutions in two distinct markets: advanced proprietary video conversion integrated circuits (ICs) and affordable, high-quality, digital-video conversion and video production equipment. FOCUS Enhancements’ complete line of video products are sold globally through resellers and distributors to the professional broadcast, education, cable, business, industrial, presentation, Internet, gaming, home video production and home theater markets. More information on FOCUS Enhancements may be obtained from the company’s SEC filings, or by visiting the FOCUS Enhancements home page at www.FOCUSinfo.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this press release which are not historical including statements regarding management’s intentions, hopes, expectations, representations, plans or predictions about the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the risk factors specified in the company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and other filings with the SEC. These statements are based on information as of March 31, 2005, and the company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.



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