Panasonic Premieres Industry Firsts At CEDIA; Full Range Of Cutting-edge Displays, Home Theater, Networking and Connected Devices Previewed.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CEDIA 2003

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 2003

Panasonic appeared here today at the CEDIA Expo 2003 with an impact statement: consumers' and custom installers' need for innovation has been met with a series of technological firsts. Panasonic's HDTV displays, DVD recorders, home theater packages and other high-end products shown here today continue the company's tradition of bringing innovative digital electronics products to market.

The nation's first cable-ready digital TV set, the widescreen (16:9) 53-inch PT-53WXD63 (diagonal screen measurement), high definition projection TV, sets the tone of this show for Panasonic, and raises the bar for the industry. The PT-53WXD63 is the first to be certified by CableLabs. This TV can connect directly to a digital cable and terrestrial broadcast system. With the use of an authorized CableCARD (which may be available from some cable operators, at a fee)(1), this TV can receive digital cable services, including premium channels, without requiring a cable set-top box. Home theater designers can also enjoy their first look at Panasonic's new series of flat panel screens: two plasma displays and two LCDs. All are HDTV models and incorporate a full range of features and appealing style details.

Four DVD recorders are at CEDIA for the first time, with the DMR-E50, DMR-E60, DMR-E80H and DMR-E100H all stating a clear case for the unique features available with DVD-RAM technology. And the E80H and E100H each add an 80 GB and 100 GB hard drive, respectively, making these among the most versatile and capable home theater devices on the market.

Panasonic puts innovation into its home-theater-in-a-box systems as well. The SC-HT1000 is the first HTiB to feature a built-in DVD recorder. The SC-MT1, SC-ST1 and SC-HT900 include a set of acoustically matched home theater speakers plus subwoofer, and these three HTiBs all feature a high-quality, progressive scan DVD player. The SC-HT800V, SC-HT810V, SC-HT425D and SC-HT405D also feature HighMAT, which was co-developed by Panasonic and Microsoft. HighMAT sets a new standard for sharing digital media between PCs and a variety of consumer electronics devices making it easier to play back personal music, photos and video collections. All of the HTiB systems support DVD-Audio.

The best seat in the house to watch these products in action will be the Panasonic EP1061K massage chair lounger. This chair incorporates some of the most advanced technology in massage therapy with the techniques of soothing Swedish massage and strong Shiatsu style massage, all in one unit, appropriately called Swede-Atsu(TM). Panasonic has been a leader in massage chair design for more than 20 years, and this chair continues that strong tradition.

Panasonic is also giving special attention to its IP/networking products, including the KX-HGW600, the perfect product for home offices or small businesses. Users can create a home or small office Local Area Network (LAN) by seamlessly linking computers to each other and to enabled peripherals, like printers and scanners, via an Ethernet network all without complicated connections or expensive re-wiring of homes or workplaces. Also among Panasonic's networking products is the KX-HCM280 network camera. This device allows remote viewing, via the Internet,of homes or businesses. Users remotely control the camera's movement a full 360 degrees, record still pictures or full-motion video, or have the camera e-mail them an alert when a connected security device is triggered.

Also being shown are Panasonic's premier business telephone systems and other telephone products with specific appeal to high-end telephone users. The KX-TD500 Digital Super Hybrid Telephone System provides the power, flexibility and expansion capability to accommodate small business or extended home office environment.

In all, at CEDIA this year Panasonic is showing itself to be an innovation and design leader. Its array of top quality products makes the company the perfect choice for discerning home theater enthusiasts and exacting custom installers.

Panasonic consumer electronics products are marketed in the United States by Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. The company is a division of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., (NYSE:MC), one of the world's largest developers and producers of innovative digital and other electronic products for consumer, business and industrial use. Media can access press releases via the Panasonic Pressroom web site, www.panasonic.com/pressroom, or through the company's toll-free fax-back system at 888-734-7490.

(1) Cable service, where available.