Panasonic Announces Timing And Pricing For New Hard Disk Recorders

30-Mar-00

Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC) announced market launch dates and MSRPs (manufacturer's suggested retail prices) for two hard disk recorders. The Panasonic ShowStopper models PV-HS1000 and PV-HS2000 are the company's first offerings in this product category. The PV-HS1000 will offer up to 20 hours of recording time, and has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $599.95. The PV-HS2000 will offer up to 30 hours of recording time, and has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $699.95. Both models are slated for introduction in April 2000.The new recorders use an internal hard disk drive and MPEG 2 technology to record hours of video information and high quality, stereo sound. Using the free ReplayTV Service, they allow television viewers to record in-progress shows ""on the fly,"" and control real-time television just as if they were watching a recorded program - with pause, fast-forward, rewind and instant replay. Both new models offer three recording modes, ""one touch"" recording capability, and the ability to create personalized ""channels"" according to viewers' criteria.""The ShowStopper is a major step forward in home video recording, offering consumers unprecedented control and flexibility for recording and playing back their favorite television programs,"" said Andrew Nelkin, General Manager, Consumer Video Division, PCEC. ""Now, at the touch of a button, you can pause, fast-forward or rewind live television shows - just as if they were previously recorded - without missing any of the action."" The hard disk recorder is so easy to use - there's no need to rewind or find blank space on a tape. Finding and viewing recorded material is fast and easy. Recording is activated instantaneously, so you'll never have to miss that crucial plot point again. If, for example, you must answer the phone in the middle of your favorite program, just hit the ""pause"" button on the universal remote control and take the call. When you're ready to resume watching the show, hit ""play"" and the program will pick up where it left off. Meanwhile, the remainder of the live program seamlessly records onto the unit's hard drive. There's also an instant replay function that repeats the last seven seconds of programming - to catch missed dialogue, for example. The ShowStopper uses the ReplayTV Service: an advanced, on-screen channel guide which is automatically updated every night with seven days of program listing information. There is no fee for the service.Like a VCR, the ShowStopper can be programmed to record your favorite TV programs, but with many more choices. For example, the ""Find Shows"" feature is like a real-time search engine for TV! It lets users search for shows by keyword and tag them for recording. Record one program, a series, or even every program matching the search criteria.Another exciting benefit is theme-based programming: the capability to create personalized, on-demand ""channels"" according to viewers' preferences. For example, you may custom-design your own ""Opera Channel"", ""Hockey Channel"" or ""Steven Spielberg Channel."" Using the free ReplayTV Service on-screen channel guide, the ShowStopper can be programmed to automatically capture shows according to title, genre, director or actor - with just the touch of a button on the remote control. Program information is kept up-to-date because the free ReplayTV Service automatically downloads seven days of program listing information to the program guide every night.""Viewers may never have to miss their favorite programs again,"" said Nelkin. ""There's no need to worry about whether you have correctly programmed the machine, or to wait until a program finishes recording to begin watching it. You can watch what what you want, when you want. You won't have to depend upon on the accuracy of printed TV listings to record programs, since the ReplayTV on-screen channel guide is updated daily."" The ShowStopper hard disk recorders are compatible with cable, DBS and over-the-air broadcasting systems. Other features include: Single Frame Advance, which will play a program frame by frame; Automatic Clock Set function; and a Universal remote control. Included accessories: composite A/V cable, S-VHS cable, AC cord, telephone cord and Duplex T Adapter, a nine-pin serial cable, nine-pin to 15-pin and nine-pin to RJH serial cable adapters, and an IR Blaster cable. Panasonic consumer video products are marketed in the United States by Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC), a division of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America (MECA). MECA is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., (NYSE/PCX: MC) of Japan, one of the world's largest producers of electronic and electric products for consumer, business and industrial use. All prices are in US dollars. Consumers seeking more information on the company's products can phone Panasonic's Customer Call Center at 800 211 PANA or access Panasonic's home page at www.panasonic.com.About ReplayTV, Inc.ReplayTV, Inc., based in Mountain View, California, is a leader in personal television technologies with the ReplayTV Service. For more information, visit the ReplayTV home page at http://www.replaytv.com or phone 800 266 1301.

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