NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Panasonic Introduces New Premiere Series Home Theater Plasma Displays at CEDIA

At the 2008 CEDIA Show in Denver, CO, the Panasonic Professional Display Company (PPDC), a unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the industry leader in professional plasma displays, unveils its new Premiere Series line of high-end home theater plasmas. The Premiere Series launch kicks off with the introduction of the first model, the TH-65VX100U, a 65-inch full high-definition plasma display targeting the high-end custom home theater enthusiast. This model is scheduled for a January 2009 release and recently received a positive "first look" review from recognized HDTV industry veteran/expert, "HDTV Guru" Gary Merson on his popular website, http://www.hdtvguru.com/.

The TH-65VX100U is a full 1080p (1,920 x 1,080 pixel) plasma, employing Panasonic's new "Premiere Panel," which produces a stunning 60,000:1 contrast ratio with an industry-leading gradation level of 7,160 steps -- a combination that results in a picture unmatched by any other plasma display currently on the market.

The TH-65VX100U incorporates a number of Panasonic's proprietary, world-leading technologies. The deepest, richest blacks are achieved by using Panasonic's latest-generation panels with a new Dynamic Black Layer on the front end, reducing pre-discharge to one-sixth that of conventional plasma models, while boosting the contrast ratio to 60,000:1. A newly designed phosphor material process technology and optical filter allows for an expanded color range that covers 120% of the HDTV color standard.

Panasonic's world-leading 18-bit digital signal processing produces a detailed gradation from light to dark, with faithful expression of subtle color differences, while enhanced moving picture resolution results in clearer, crisper, and smoother moving images.

Each model in the Premiere Series line will be equipped with outstanding customizable functions for high-end home theater connoisseurs, including 16 adjustment menus covering items such as six gamma curve options and white balance settings, and an advanced memory function that makes it possible to name and save equalized data.

"Our new Premiere Series line further demonstrates a commitment to providing the professional and commercial market with plasma solutions for a wide range of applications," said Andrew Nelkin, PPDC president. "This new line addresses the market's need for a superior digital home theater display, one that produces an image that is unrivaled in the industry. We are truly excited to launch our new Premiere Series Iine of high-end home theater plasma displays at CEDIA with the TH-65VX100U, and are looking forward to even more Premiere models as the line continues to roll out."

A 50-inch Premiere Series model, the TH-50VX100U, will be introduced first quarter of 2009, with a plan for additional screen sizes after that.

About Panasonic Professional Display Company

Panasonic Professional Display Company, a unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, is responsible exclusively for the professional digital display business. Based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic markets a broad line of digital and other electronics products for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. of Japan, and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic's exclusive Panasonic Plasma Concierge program for professional and consumer owners of Panasonic Plasmas is administered through its Virginia-based Call Center which has been recognized as a Certified "Center of Excellence" by the Center for Customer-Driven Quality(TM) at Purdue University. For more information on Panasonic Professional Display Company, please visit www.panasonic.com/proplasma.