PANASONIC RATES ITS 1080p PLASMA HDTV LINE TO LAST
100,000 HOURS TO HALF BRIGHTNESS

New York, NY (August 7, 2007) – Panasonic, the market leader in Plasma TVs, today announced that it is rating it’s best-selling line of 1080p Plasma HDTV’s to last 100,000 hours before reaching half brightness.

Based upon the U.S. average daily viewing time of six and a half hours, Panasonic 1080p Plasma HDTVs could on average take more than 42 years before they reach half of their original brightness level. Panasonic rates its current line of 720p Plasma HDTVs to last 60,000 hours to half brightness or 25 years at six and a half hours per day.

“This is a significant step for Panasonic Plasma and something we feel is yet another differentiator for our Plasma HDTV products,” said Dr. Paul F. Liao, Chief Technology Officer, Panasonic Corporation of North America. “What makes this milestone even more significant is that this rating is to half brightness, not until end of life cycle. Even after 42 years, on average, our Plasma HDTVs could still be able to provide their owners with clear, crisp colorful high definition images.”

“This is yet another example of Panasonic’s drive to provide consumers with products that deliver true value on many levels – from outstanding picture quality, and reliability to more environmentally conscious products as well,” added Liao. “Last year we were the first flat panel manufacturer to eliminate lead from all of our Panasonic Plasma displays. To date, we remain the only flat panel manufacturer to do that. Now, with our 1080p Plasma HDTVs rated at 100,000 hours to half brightness, our Plasmas could provide consumers with significantly more years of viewing pleasure.”

Panasonic’s line of industry-leading Plasma 1080p HDTV’s are available in 42”, 50”, 58” and 65” class diagonal screen sizes.* Panasonic’s 42” 1080p HDTV is the only 42” 1080p Plasma on the market today.

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company
Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC), a market and technology leader in high definition television, is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (NYSE: MC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic’s exclusive Panasonic Plasma Concierge program is administered through its Virginia-based Call Center, recognized as a Certified “Center of Excellence” by the Center for Customer-Driven Quality™ at Purdue University. Information about Panasonic products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

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*Panasonic consumer 1080p HDTV Plasmas:
TH-42PZ700U
TH-50PZ700U
TH-58PZ700U
TH-50PZ750U
TH-58PZ750U
TH-65PZ750U (available in September)

Editorial Contacts:

Chris De Maria
Panasonic 201-348-7182
demariac@us.panasonic.com

Jeff Samuels
Panasonic 201-392-4571
samuelsj@us.panasonic.com

Adam Paige
Cohn & Wolfe 212-798-9833
adam_paige@cohnwolfe.com