Panasonic to Deliver Full Lineup of HD Equipment to Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

Panasonic to Deliver Full Lineup of HD Equipment to Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

Initiative Is Panasonic's Largest-Ever Equipment Supply for the Winter Olympic Games Making Vancouver the First HD Winter Olympic Games

TOKYO, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Corporation, the Official Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, announced it is providing a full lineup of High-Definition (HD) equipment to support the broadcast of the Olympic Games; delivering the largest supply of AV equipment for any Winter Games in the company's history. Through cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) and Olympic Broadcasting Services Vancouver (OBSV), Panasonic will supply its HD video equipment to the competition venues and broadcasting locations, making the Vancouver Games the first Olympic Winter Games to be broadcast completely in HD format.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091119/NY14515 )

Following Beijing 2008, all international video signals for the 2010 Winter Games will be produced and distributed in HD format from the International Broadcasting Center (IBC) to rights-holding broadcasters around the world. In addition, the HD video signals will also be used for the first time for display on the LED Large Screen Display Systems in the competition venues and BC Place Stadium where the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will take place; making the 2010 Winter Games the first "HD Olympic Winter Games" with all the Olympic videos to be delivered completely in HD. At BC Place Stadium in downtown Vancouver, Panasonic will install three LED video screens with a total display area of 243 m(2) (approximately 1.4 times the size used in the Torino 2006 Main Stadium). Together with Panasonic's professional sound systems and Plasma Display Panels, the Panasonic AV systems will deliver spectacular images to enhance the excitement and spectacle of the Opening Ceremonies.

Panasonic's DVCPRO HD has already been selected as the recording format for the 2010 Winter Games. The company will deliver large numbers of broadcasting equipment such as the P2HD series, a solid-state memory news gathering system. The 2010 Winter Games is the ninth Olympic Games in which Panasonic's digital technology has been used as the recording format.

In addition, Panasonic will support a safe and secure Olympic operation by providing high-quality picture and high-sensitivity surveillance camera systems for the indoor and outdoor Olympic facilities, the surrounding areas and highways.

In cooperation with VANOC and Bell, a Premier National Partner and the Exclusive Telecommunications Partner for the 2010 Winter Games, Panasonic will also provide an HD Video Conference System as a means to link the two Athletes' Villages in Vancouver and Whistler for the first time. The Panasonic system combines HD video conference units with Full HD Plasma Display Panels and HD camcorders which will link the Villages with H.264 high-resolution images and high sound quality resistant to audio cutoff. The Panasonic HD Video Conference System allows coaches and athletes to communicate without traveling between the Villages by providing vivid images and clear sound that make them feel as if they were in the same room. This system will also be used for the welcome ceremony of the Villages to unite athletes. This will not only save time and money required for the athletes to move between the Villages, but also help reduce CO2 emissions, ensuring an effectively-run Olympic Games with environmental considerations.

   AV equipment supply for the venues               Equipment                            Quantity   -----------------------------------      ---------------------   LED Large Screen Display System          15 venues, 29 screens                                                   953 m(2)   -----------------------------------      ----------------------   Professional Audio Systems               17 venues, 91 systems   -----------------------------------      ----------------------   TVs                                        Approx. 3,000 units   -----------------------------------      ----------------------   DLP Projectors                                 17 screens   -----------------------------------      ----------------------   Monitoring and Surveillance Cameras       Approx. 1,200 units   -----------------------------------      ----------------------   Others                                    HD Video Conference                                                   System   -----------------------------------      ----------------------   

Note: Including Olympics-related sites such as the competitions venues, Athletes' Villages, the Main Press Center and official live sites.

   Broadcast equipment supply for the venues            Equipment                         Quantity   --------------------------         -------------------   P2HD/DVCPRO HD Recorder              Approx. 160 units   --------------------------         -------------------   P2HD Camera Recorder                  Approx. 50 units   --------------------------         -------------------   Monitors                             Approx. 600 units   --------------------------         -------------------   Multi format live switcher         12 venues, 16 units   --------------------------         -------------------    About Panasonic:  

Panasonic is proud to support the Olympic Movement -- aimed at promoting world peace through sports -- as an Official Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category for more than 20 years since The Olympic Partner (TOP) Program commenced for the Calgary Olympic Winter Games in 1988. Under the slogan of "Sharing the Passion," Panasonic will contribute to the success of the Olympic Games through its technology. In 2007 Panasonic renewed the partnership with the International Olympic Committee through to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. For more information please visit http://panasonic.net/olympic/.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091119/NY14515
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Panasonic Corporation

CONTACT: Chris De Maria (Panasonic), +1-201-348-7182,
demariac@us.panasonic.com, or MeeJin Annan-Brady (Panasonic), +1-201-392-6124,
annan-bradym@us.panasonic.com; Blayne Murphy (Cohn & Wolfe), +1-212-798-9763,
blayne.murphy@cohnwolfe.com

Web Site: http://panasonic.net/olympic

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Profile: International Entertainment