TOKYO—Toshiba Corporation today took the home video experience to the next, high definition level, as it started the Japanese roll out of the world’s first commercially available HD DVD player. The new player, HD-XA1, delivers high definition images and crystal clear sound, bringing home entertainment to a new level.

Toshiba’s HD-XA1 is the first player to support the HD DVD format*1 approved by the DVD Forum, the international association that defines and promotes DVD standards. HD-XA1 supports playback of pre-recorded HD DVD, offering consumers stunning digital high-definition picture quality far surpassing that of standard DVD*2. Sound is also enhanced. Along with L-PCM 5.1ch audio, HD-XA1 supports the clarity and realism of three next generation surround-sound formats, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, and sound sources can be output to audio systems via the player’s HDMI output or multi-channel audio output. Support for up-conversion of standard DVD to a resolution of 1080i or 720p through HDCP capable HDMI output allows consumers to enjoy current DVD libraries with output resolution scaled to their HDTV or HD displays.
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New CEA Study Finds 34 Million American Households Now Have Broadband Internet Access
CEA’s Shapiro Reveals Findings During Opening Keynote at EHX 2006 Highlights Opportunities for Custom Electronics Professionals

Arlington, Virginia - Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®) President and CEO Gary Shapiro today announced that 43 million U.S. households now have broadband Internet access compared to just two million in 1999, according to the results of a new CEA research study on broadband access in America. Shapiro introduced the findings during his opening keynote at the Electronic House Expo (EHX), which runs through April 1, 2006 in Orlando, Florida.

“Broadband households are quickly becoming the norm. It is very possible that dial-up Internet connections will be a thing of the past by the end of the decade,” Shapiro said. “High-speed Internet services have ushered in many new applications, devices and services that consumers are demanding. CEA research shows a bright future for custom retailers and installation professionals, because not all consumers are technically savvy enough, or want to spend the time to set up all the devices and applications they wish to use.”

According to the CEA study, Broadband and the Home of Tomorrow, 33 percent of non-owning high-definition television (HDTV) households are interested in having a professional install an HDTV in the next two years. This translates into 20.5 million households. Large numbers of households are also interested in having digital video recorders (DVR) and distributed audio systems installed.
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Comcast and NBC Universal to Offer Hit Shows From NBC, USA Network, Bravo and SCI FI Channel On Demand

The Office, Law & Order CI and SVU, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Passions, Monk, Battlestar Galactica and More to Debut on Comcast’s VOD Service

PHILADELPHIA and ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., March 30 /PRNewswire/ — Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) and NBC Universal today announced that starting in May, they will begin adding more than a dozen of NBC Universal’s most-watched broadcast and cable programs to Comcast’s ON DEMAND video-on- demand (VOD) service.

Through this comprehensive agreement, the companies will make select NBC Network primetime, late-night and daytime programs available in Comcast VOD markets served by NBC owned-and-operated stations, as well as hit cable programs from USA Network, SCI FI Channel and Bravo, available on demand in all Comcast VOD markets. NBC Universal on demand programs on Comcast will include:

• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent
• The Office
• Las Vegas
• Conviction
• The Emmy Award-winning Monk on USA Network
• SCI FI Channel’s acclaimed original series Battlestar Galactica and Ghost Hunters
• Bravo’s Celebrity Poker Showdown
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
• Late Night with Conan O’Brien
• Passions

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Urges Congress to Resist Content Industry Pleas for Technology Mandates

Arlington, Virginia - The following statement was issued today by Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®) President and CEO Gary Shapiro commending the House Commerce Committee for today’s hearing on digital content and innovation:

“Slingbox and TiVo are small entrepreneurial companies that represent the best of American innovation. They empower Americans to watch their lawfully acquired content where and when they want. These ingenious products are good for consumers and good for the content industry, and will help America remain the world leader in innovation.

“These products have nothing to do with ‘P2P’ or mass, indiscriminate redistribution over the internet. Instead, they allow law-abiding consumers to use content they have already bought and paid for in new and flexible ways.
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Legislation Will Help Advance New IP-enabled Video Service, Spurring Innovation and the American Economy

Arlington, Virginia - The following statement was issued today by Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®) President and CEO Gary Shapiro regarding, the Communications, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006 introduced yesterday by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX):

“CEA commends Chairman Barton for introducing draft legislation to provide consumers with more choice in video services. Under this bill, the necessary steps have been taken to remove barriers for new entrants in to the video marketplace. Society will benefit from more competition and real choices in broadband.
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PANASONIC LAUNCHES WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED 58-INCH HD PLASMA TV

Move reflects industry leader’s commitment to fit screen size to lifestyle

Editor’s Summary:

• Ninth-generation plasma panels feature nearly 29 billion colors and 10,000:1 contrast ratio at full HD 1366 x 768 resolution.
• Twin HDMI inputs with proprietary HDAVI (EZ-Sync) Control Function for one-button control of multiple components.
• Integrated SD Memory Card slot and Photo Viewer Technology(1) for cable- and computer-free viewing of photo slide shows.
• Integrated NTSC/ATSC/QAM(2) tuners.
• State-of-the-art video noise reduction, motion-adaptive digital comb filter, 3D color management, and motion pattern noise-reduction technology.
• BBE® ViVA HD3D Sound with four speakers plus passive radiator (3)
• TV Guide On-Screen™ Electronic Program Guide (3), single-tuner split-screen display, and CableCARD (4) slot(3)

NEW YORK, NY (March 28, 2006) - Continuing its commitment to providing the most technologically superior HD plasma televisions for every room size and viewing environment, Panasonic, world leader in plasma manufacturing and sales, has once again raised the bar on HDTV performance with the release of two 58-inch, 1366 x 768-pixel resolution models capable of displaying nearly 29 billion colors with a 10,000:1 contrast ratio.

Panasonic TH58PX60U

Scheduled to ship in early summer, both models feature Panasonic’s HDAVI (EZ-Sync) technology for single remote/one-button control of TV, DVD recorders and home theater systems, and incorporate an integrated SD Memory Card slot for instant, cableless viewing of digital images and slide shows.
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PANASONIC ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST HIGH DEFINITION BLU-RAY DISC PLAYER’S AVAILABILITY, PRICING

NEW YORK CITY, NY (March 28, 2006) – Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company today announced the upcoming availability of the company’s first Blu-ray Disc player, the DMP-BD10, available this September.

Blu-ray Disc is the next generation optical disc format that features capacity as large as 50 gigabytes on a dual-layer disc and will be capable of holding high-definition movies, tens of thousands of songs, and extensive capacity for extraordinary video games and PC storage. Blu-ray Disc has the support of more than 170 leading companies including the top studios and consumer electronics manufacturers.
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Explosive Debates From CEA’s Entertainment Technology Policy Summit Now Available Via Podcasts
Digital Recordings Include Colorful and Animated Exchanges Among Industry Leaders on Intellectual Property, Fair Use and Telecommunications

Arlington, Virginia - The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®) today announced the availability of podcast recordings from its Entertainment Technology Policy Summit panel discussions and keynote presentations, including charged debates on intellectual property between the likes of Mark Cuban, HDNet; Preston Padden, The Walt Disney Company; Gigi Sohn, Public Knowledge; CEA’s Gary Shapiro and others. The inaugural event, which ran March 15-16, 2006, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C., included animated-and at times outright contentious-debates over intellectual property protection, fair use rights and new digital content distribution methods.
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Current TV Leaps Forward With Expanded Distribution on Comcast’s Digital Cable Service

San Francisco and Philadelphia (March 27, 2006) - Current TV and Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) today announced a distribution agreement that will increase distribution of the network on Comcast’s digital cable service in nearly all of its systems across the country by June 1. The agreement expands the availability of Current from about 500,000 Comcast customers to approximately 8 million customers in the cable operator’s digital cable service area. It also expands the network’s overall distribution from 20 million to 28 million U.S. households.

Commenting on the agreement, Current TV chairman Al Gore stated, “Less than eight months ago we launched a new network that sought to do something extraordinary - to involve young adults in helping create the television they want to watch. With the additional distribution of Current on Comcast’s digital cable lineup, we look forward to continuing to empower young adults to share the stories they are passionate about, but now to a much larger audience.”
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Syntax-Brillian Signs Strategic Supply Agreement with LG.Philips LCD to Support Planned Expansion of Olevia LCD TVs Worldwide

Tempe, Ariz. — Syntax-Brillian Corporation (Nasdaq: BRLC), one of the fastest-growing manufacturers of HDTVs in North America, today announced a strategic supply agreement with LG.Philips LCD (NYSE: LPL, KRX: 034220), one of the world’s leading thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) manufacturers.

Under the terms of the agreement, LG.Philips LCD will significantly expand its supply of large and wide LCD TV panels to Syntax-Brillian. This agreement is a win-win proposition for the two companies, as LG.Philips LCD will acquire a steady demand base in the fast growing LCD TV panel market, while Syntax-Brillian will secure a stable supply of high quality LCD TV panels. This deal is expected to help LG.Philips LCD and Syntax-Brillian solidify their leadership roles in the LCD TV panel and overall TV set markets, respectively.
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