CES 2009 News: Panasonic Announce Viera LCD Line Up For 2009

At a press conference held at CES 2009 Panasonic announced it’s new line up of Viera LCD’s. Panasonic’s continuing and growing commitment to LCD televisions is evidenced by an increase from five VIERA LCD models in 2008 to 12 in 2009.

Panasonic’s top-of-the-line LCD is the VIERA G1 series, featuring the 1080p TC-L37G1, 37-inch class TV and the TC-L32G1, 32-inch class model. Both TVs offer 120Hz Motion Picture Pro3 technology, helping to ensure crisp, focused images for sports and other fast-action scenes. The G1 LCDs also feature VIERA Linkä, a PC input, Game Mode, a 20,000:1 contrast ratio, three HDMI inputs, and a swivel base and narrow bezel design. The G1 series will be available in April 2009.

“Panasonic is one of the few companies that is technologically agnostic, and we believe that the choice of video entertainment is directly related to the consumer’s applications – where they will be watching the TV and what they like to watch,” said Bob Perry, Executive Vice President, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “With our expanded product lines in both LCD and Plasma, Panasonic firmly believes in giving the consumer choices for their entertainment decisions and we are perfectly positioned to do just that. Panasonic’s Plasmas have been an industry leader for years and we are fully committed to achieving that status with our LCD line-up. Last year Panasonic’s LCD TV was top rated in a leading consumer publication and we have every intention of building upon that success.”

The VIERA S1 series, available in March 2009.

Panasonic are also adding an iPod docking station to four of the new VIERA LCD models and introduced a new screen size a 19-inch class to the LCD family. To accommodate the expanded product line and to increase Panasonic’s presence in the LCD market Panasonic will also open a new LCD factory in Western Japan, with production scheduled to begin in 2010. When in full operation, the factory will be capable of producing 15 million 32-inch panels per year.