PANASONIC anounces re-branding of the VIERA® line for all PLASMA and LCD HD flat panel Televisions

Panasonic Increases VIERA Line of High Definition TVs To Include 16 Plasma TVs and 5 LCD TVs



Las Vegas, NV . – Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal U.S. subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE:MC), the industry leader in high definition TV, announced today at the Consumer Electronics Show, that its entire 2008 line of high definition flat screen televisions will be branded VIERA®. The re-branding of its HD flat screen televisions for 2008 signals Panasonic’s total commitment to the flat panel market, both in Plasma and LCD televisions. All 21 of the VIERA televisions provide the consumer with superb picture quality, convenient networking capabilities and superior customer service via its award winning Concierge program.



The 2008 designation of the VIERA brand also marks the introduction of two new screen sizes – a 46-inch Plasma and a 37-inch LCD – giving Panasonic a very deep line of high definition televisions to fit every application the consumer may have. “VIERA signifies a new visual era,” said Dennis Eppel, Panasonic Vice President, Panasonic Display Products Group. “With the VIERA brand crossing our HD flat panel lines, we now have a platform for a consistent marketing program that is built upon Panasonic’s reputation for providing superior picture quality. Panasonic now can offer the consumer their choice from 26-inch to 65-inch TVs, all with a consistent cosmetic appearance. Panasonic has been an industry leader in television technology and as the new era of TVs prepares for the 2009 digital transition, we are confident that Panasonic will remain at the top of the class. Furthermore, with the 2008 Beijing Olympic games on the horizon, Panasonic, as an official Worldwide Olympic Partner, will be positioning the VIERA series HDTV as the Official HD televison of the Olympic Games.”



The VIERA Plasma line features five distinct series (PZ850; PZ800; PZ85; PZ80; PX80), all of which feature new panels, improved contrast ratios, SD Memory Card slots, Game Mode, HDMI connections, increased luminous efficiency and VIERA Link™. The later allows the consumer to operate multiple VIERA Link equipped components with one remote. Game Mode is a new addition to Panasonic’s televison line that minimizes the time lag when displaying video games on a Panasonic flat panel.



While Panasonic’s focus for 2008 is on Full High Definition 1080p Plasma displays, there are two 720p High Definition Plasmas in the 2008 line-up. The VIERA 42-inch TH-42PX80 and VIERA 50-inch TH-50PX80. The VIERA Z80 series includes three screen sizes, all with 1080p resolution and introduces the new 46-inch display to the line -the TH-46PZ80. In addition the PZ80 series includes a 42-inch and a 50-inch model, all of which offer an improved Native contrast ratio o 20,000:1. The VIERA PZ85 series includes three screen sizes, all with 1080p resolution, the, 42-inch TH-42PZ85, the 46-inch TH-46PZ85 and the 50-inch TH-50PZ85. These full high definition Plasmas feature an improved native contrast ratio of 30,000:1. The Z85 series adds a PC input. In addition, the speakers are now hidden in the front.



The VIERA PZ800 series of 1080p Plasma televisions includes four screen sizes, the 42-inch TH-42PZ800, the 46-inch TH-46PZ800, the 50-inch TH-50PZ800 and the 58-inch TH-58PZ800. The PZ800 series meets the THX™ Certified Display specifications, signifying the highest standards for quality and performance. The PZ800 series also features an improved native contrast ratio of 30,000:1; four HDMI connections and a new one sheet of glass design concept.



Panasonic’s VIERA flagship line for 2008 –– the full 1080p Z850 series , features four models - the 46-inch TH-46PZ850, the 50-inch TH-50PZ850, the 58-inch TH-58PZ850 and the 65-inchTH-65PZ850. Panasonic’s top of the line models introduce IP enabled TV, a technology that provides access to online content, such as YouTube and Picasa, directly from the televison. In addition the Z850 series features a Pro Setting Menu, allowing the consumer to access professional calibration software; an improved native resolution contrast ratio of 30,000:1; RS-232C connection; four HDMI connections and a PC input. The PZ850 series further expands the capabilities of the SD Card feature by utilizing the AVCHD codec to display high definition video recorded on a HD camcorder equipped with the H.264 codec, Digital Cinema Color, a technology that allows for color reproduction which enables the VIERA displays to accurately reproduce the colors that are essential for movies.



The five LCD VIERA HD televisions are divided into two distinct series and introduces the new 37-inch screen size. Both series feature an improved Native contrast ratio of 1200:1 and a 10,000:1 Dynamic ratio, Game Mode; an SD memory Card slot; HDMI connections and VIERA Link. The 2008 LCD VIERA line debuts with two 720p models- the 26-inch TC-26LX85 and the 32-inch TC-32LX85. Both models include three HDMI connections that enable multi product connectivity via the VIERA Link connection. Also spotlighted in this series is Panasonic’s first 37-inch VIERA LCD televison, the TC-37LZ85, with 1080p full HD resolution, which in addition to the aforementioned features adds a PC input.



Panasonic’s Premium VIERA line of LCDs features two new models, the 32-inch TC-32LZ800 and the debut of the 37-inch TC-37LZ800. These two models add the following features – Motion Focus Technology; four HDMI connections that provide VIERA Link; a PC input; BBE VIVA Surround sound and the one sheet of glass appearance design.


About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC), a market and technology leader in High Definition television, is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (NYSE: MC) and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic’s exclusive Panasonic Plasma Concierge customer support program (888-972-6276) is administered through its Virginia-based Call Center, recognized as a Certified “Center of Excellence” by the Center for Customer-Driven Quality™ at Purdue University. Information about Panasonic products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.