PANASONIC ANNOUNCES ADVANCED AJ-HDP2000 2K FILM DATA PROCESSOR FOR THE D-5 UNIVERSAL MASTERING VTR

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 23, 2006) – Panasonic announced the development of the AJ-HDP2000 2K Film-to-Data Processor for the AJ-HD3700 D-5 HD Universal Mastering VTR. Used typically with a telecine system, the processor accepts 2K full-frame film, 2K or HD images and processes them for recording onto a AJ-HD3700 D-5 HD VTR for archive and distribution. The AJ-HDP2000 has been developed in response to rapid growth in 35mm Digital Intermediate (DI) processing; a workflow that delivers substantial creative and economical benefits for feature film production by converting 35mm film to digital for image manipulation, and then back to film again for distribution. DI provides significant color control advantages during postproduction and eliminates many of the conventional optical printing steps in the film delivery process. After careful study over several years, Panasonic has decided to utilize JPEG2000 compression, the Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI) standard for cinema release, in the AJ-HDP2000. The 2K-to-D5-to-2K conversion algorithm implemented in the AJ-HDP2000 maintains the resolution and the color fidelity of the original film transfer when returning to the data domain from a D-5 archive cassette. The processor using JPEG2000 compression and 4:4:4 sampling to convert digitized film at a maximum of 188Mbps data rate in 2K (2048) resolution as well as in HD (1920) resolution levels for recording to an AJ-HD3700 recorder. Maximum record time is 155 minutes at 24fps HD. ”Panasonic is once again answering the requirements of Hollywood and the worldwide postproduction communities by expanding the D-5 Universal Mastering Format into the data recording domain,” said Robert Harris, Vice President, Marketing, Panasonic Broadcast. “The combination of the AJ-HDP2000 processor and AJ-HD3700 significantly reduces the cost of producing and storing a two-hour feature film in the full frame 2K image format, because the film can be stored on a cost-efficient, easy-to-handle D-5 HD cassette, compatible with any existing AJ-HD3700 VTR. “The numerous Post facilities with capital investments in D-5 will be able to use their current HD3700B, and the workflow that has worked so well for them with the D5-HD VTRs can be continued with only slight modifications for full-frame, 2K and HD post.” Audio support includes eight discreet channels in 24fps mode and multi audio channels using outboard compression or as an embedded input of HD-SDI. Video inputs at 1.5Gbps include two Dual-Link BNCs and a VTR Link, and 1.5Gbps video outputs include two Dual-Link BNCs and a Bit Stream BNC, as well as XGA or 72fps RGB. Time Code in/out is embedded or XLR. Panasonic D-5 recorders are the de facto standard for HD and SD mastering and affordable full bandwidth distribution, with substantial investments in the format made by major television networks, studios and production facilities in Hollywood, New York, London, and other facilities around the world. In standard definition video applications, the AJ-HD3700B VTR can record and playback both uncompressed 625 line and 525 line digital component D-5 cassettes, while in high definition applications, the AJ-HD3700B provides full-bandwidth 4:2:2 digital 10-bit component recording in a wide variety of image sizes and frame rates, assuring the pristine picture quality demanded in digital television mastering. The AJ-HDP2000 is slated to be available in the second quarter, 2007 For more information on Panasonic’s complete HD product lineup, visit www.panasonic.com/broadcast. About Panasonic Broadcast Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co. is a leading supplier of broadcast and professional video products and systems. Panasonic Broadcast is a unit company of Panasonic Corporation of North America. The company is the North American headquarters of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC) of Japan, and the hub of its U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations For more information on Panasonic Broadcast products, access the company’s web site at www.panasonic.com/broadcast.