Panasonic Hails Cable's tru2way Agreement with Major CE and IT Companies

Panasonic Hails Cable's tru2way Agreement with Major CE and IT Companies

Holds D.C. Demo of HDTV, Enabling Consumers to Receive High Definition Interactive Digital Cable Service Without Using Cable Set-Top Box

WASHINGTON, June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic, a leader in the development and application of the next-generation cable TV technology known as tru2way(TM), hailed the agreement between the nation's top six cable providers and leading Consumer Electronics (CE) and Information Technology (IT) companies regarding the roll-out of tru2way(TM) in their systems. The cable system operators involved are Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Cablevision, Charter and Bright House Networks, which together serve more than 80% of all cable subscribers.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080609/NYM149 )

Panasonic also reaffirmed its own longtime commitment to tru2way technology leadership through the agreement, and by demonstrating a Panasonic VIERA Plasma HDTV that can receive HD interactive, digital cable service without using a separate cable set-top box. The tru2way demonstration, to be held in the National Press Club, is part of a presentation by National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) President & CEO Kyle McSlarrow, themed "Cable's Broadband Platform: Innovation for the Consumer."

"Together, with this landmark agreement, multiple innovative industries are expanding choice, convenience and confidence for cable consumers," said Robert Perry, Senior Vice President, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "At January's International Consumer Electronics Show," he continued, "Panasonic was the only company to announce plans to launch tru2way products in 2008, including two models of HDTV with tru2way digital cable capability built in -- 42- and 50-inch class flat panel Plasma HDTVs -- which we expect will be available through multiple retailers this coming holiday season."

In addition to tru2way HDTVs, Panasonic has developed and will be able to supply next-generation all-digital cable set-top boxes to all cable MSOs (Multiple System Operators) whose networks support tru2way specifications. Panasonic has also developed a tru2way-based Portable DVR (P-DVR) model which will let cable customers record programming at home and take it with them wherever they go. It incorporates full digital HDD video recording functionality into a Panasonic portable DVD player platform and allows playback of cable programming anytime anywhere. Both interactive digital cable devices will be supplied to Comcast for their subscribers.

For more than two years Panasonic has been working closely with cable operators and the cable industry's research and development consortium, Cable Television Laboratories (CableLabs(R)), to complete the technical specifications and help test the operation of tru2way technology. "Our OpenCable(TM) development activities have gained from the beginning with the active participation and input of many contributors, and tru2way development owes a great deal to their ingenuity and assistance," said Dr. Richard R. Green, President & CEO of CableLabs. "We have been especially glad to have Panasonic's help in designing test and verification suites for tru2way technology; and we look forward to continuing to work together with them, and other companies, to advance these systems."

"The announcements by both CE and IT companies of their support of tru2way indicates that the industry finally recognizes that tru2way provides the wide range of options that consumers desire for next-generation interactive, digital cable entertainment," said Dr. Paul F. Liao, Chief Technology Officer of Panasonic Corporation of North America. "Panasonic is proud to have played a key role in what we expect will be a rapid rollout of tru2way in cable systems throughout the country."

About Panasonic

Based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America markets a broad line of digital and other electronics products for consumer, business and industrial customers. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE:MC) of Japan, and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is the consumer electronics marketing and sales unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America. Information about Panasonic and its products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

(TM) tru2way, CableLabs and OpenCable are trademarks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.

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Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080609/NYM149
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Source: Panasonic

CONTACT: Jim Reilly of Panasonic, +1-201-392-6067,
ReillyJ@us.panasonic.com; or Alix Dunn of Cohn & Wolfe, +1-212-798-9795,
Alix_Dunn@cohnwolfe.com, for Panasonic

Web site: http://www.panasonic.com/
http://www.panasonic.com/pressroom

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Profile: International Entertainment