PANASONIC HIGH DEFINTION EQUIPMENT AT THE HEART OF HDNEWS, THE FIRST NATIONAL 24-HOUR-A-DAY HD NEWS CHANNEL

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 18, 2004) – Panasonic announced that HDNews (HDN), one of the VOOM HD Originals, has made a substantial investment in its high-definition (HD) equipment to enable the channel to operate completely in native HD. HDN is the first-ever 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week HD news channel and is available exclusively to subscribers of VOOM, the first television service to offer a full array of HD programming to customers throughout the continental United States. Launched in February 2004, HDN features a news-wheel of top headlines, national weather, sports highlights, business updates and feature material. HDN is the first and only national news channel to offer all of its programming in native HD, including news footage, graphics and in-studio presentation. Anchored by its state-of-the-art studio in Woodbury, NY, HDNews covers the nation with regional correspondents in New York City, Miami, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles. “Panasonic is delighted that our cameras, recorders and graphics systems were selected to provide the incredible image quality of high-definition to HDN viewers. Panasonic is a world leader in high-definition, and teaming on an HD first like the HDN channel is a Panasonic hallmark,” said John Baisley, President, Panasonic Broadcast. Panasonic native 1080i HD equipment purchased for HDN includes three AK-HC930 1080i studio cameras (used with robotic control systems) for in-studio use, eight AJ-HC20A portable 1080i DVCPRO HD camcorders for field acquisition, and 23 AJ-HD1700 2-hour DVCPRO HD VTRs for studio and satellite recordings. In addition, two AV-CPG500 real-time HD graphics processors were purchased to produce the visually-stunning on-air sports visuals and dynamic live graphics. The Panasonic HD equipment was installed at HDN by systems integrator Diversified Systems, Inc., of Kenilworth, NJ. The dual-format AK-HC930 studio camera system is equipped with three 2/3” 2.2 million pixel FIT CCDs for delivering outstanding 1080 interlace performance; an option is available for 480 interlace acquisition. Fully operational at 15 pounds, the AJ-HDC20A 2.2 million-pixel 3-CCD camcorder offers recording in 1080i for field acquisition. The AJ-HD1700 DVCPRO HD extended-record (EX) format VTR provides extended recording times, superior slow motion and low-tape costs for high definition program production. The VTR records for up to 126 minutes of 1080-line interlace or 720-line progressive-scan high definition video on a single XL size DVCPRO HD cassette, and offers eight channels of uncompressed digital audio to accommodate 5.1 surround sound plus a stereo sound mix, SAP or multi-language programming. The AV-CP500 multi-application, multi-format HD/SD graphics system, running vizrt graphic software at HDN, offers real-time rendering of broadcast quality graphics at 480/60i, 720p/60, 1080i/60 and 1080/24p HD. About VOOM and Rainbow DBS VOOM, provided by Rainbow DBS, Cablevision System Corporation’s satellite service division, is the first television service to provide a comprehensive array of high-definition (HD) programming for the rapidly growing but underserved HDTV audience. VOOM’s lineup of more than 30 HD channels features an exclusive package of brand-new, commercial-free channels such as WorldSport, Epics and Animania. The service also includes over 70 of the most popular cable channels in standard-definition (SD), 18 digital music channels, and over-the-air digital broadcast channels in HD, where available. VOOM is offered across the continental United States through local Sears’ retailers, by calling 1-800-GET-VOOM, or by visiting www.voom.com. About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC The exclusive VOOM HD Originals package of 21 commercial-free HD channels was created by Rainbow Media Holdings LLC. A leader in sports, news and entertainment programming, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC). Rainbow Media owns and manages national networks: AMC, Fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women's Entertainment; as well as the on-demand services: Mag Rack, Uncensored On Demand, World Picks On Demand and World Picks Networks. Rainbow Media’s other businesses include its regional programming services – MetroChannels, News 12 Networks and Rainbow Sports Networks – in addition to the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. Rainbow Media is also a 50 percent partner in Fox Sports Net. About Panasonic Broadcast Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co. is a leading supplier of broadcast, professional video and presentation products and systems. Panasonic Broadcast is a unit company of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, the principal North America subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC), one of the world's leading producers of electronic and electric products for consumer, business and industrial use. For more information on Panasonic Broadcast products, access the company’s web site at www.panasonic.com/broadcast.