Top Consumer Electronics Companies Launch Plasma Display Coalition

Top Consumer Electronics Companies Launch Plasma Display Coalition

Promotes Plasma TV's Outstanding Image Quality and Consumer Benefits

NEW YORK, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Five leading plasma TV panel manufacturers have formed the Plasma Display Coalition to further promote the growth of plasma TV in the U.S., encourage understanding of the benefits and future potential of plasma TV and dispel lingering misconceptions about plasma TV. The Coalition's founders are Hitachi Home Electronics, LG Electronics USA, Panasonic Corporation of North America, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. and Samsung Electronics USA. Membership is open to enterprises that manufacture, market and sell plasma TV panels.

Together the companies, and their parent organizations, have invested more than $10 billion in the R&D, design, manufacturing and marketing of plasma TV over the past decade. Plasma TV is rapidly becoming the big screen choice for today's home entertainment center and a vital part of retailers' sales.

"The effort of the Coalition is to promote the growth of plasma TV in the U.S., respond to consumer and retailer desires for more accurate information on plasma TV, and correct myths about plasma TV's affordability and features," said Jim Palumbo, the President of the Plasma Display Coalition.

"With plasma TV's many technology advantages and key benefits, each of our members is excited about the potential for plasma TV as consumers embrace this new flat panel display technology." The Coalition will conduct performance and testing projects, the results of which are intended to help retailers communicate and consumers better understand the many benefits of plasma TV, according to Palumbo.

Dovetailing with the explosive growth of digital high-definition television (HDTV), plasma TV has become one of the most desired consumer electronics purchases for this holiday season, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.

Noted industry analyst Richard Doherty, research director and CEO of the Envisioneering Group, hailed the formation of the Plasma Display Coalition as "a bold initiative among some of the world's premier consumer electronics companies."

"Once the stuff of dreams, flat-panel HDTVs are now here in styles and prices for nearly every household," Doherty said. "The coalition's timing is excellent, as more and more consumers desire plasma's combination of slim style and better-than-CRT video image quality as their next TV purchase. It's clear the coalition's member companies have individually and collectively driven plasma TV progress and quality on an unparalleled scale."

About the Plasma Display Coalition

The Plasma Display Coalition was formed to promote the growth of plasma TV in the United States to encourage understanding of the benefits and future potential of plasma TV. Former Sony and Aiwa senior executive Jim Palumbo is leading the Plasma Display Coalition as its President. Founding members are Hitachi Home Electronics, LG Electronics USA, Panasonic Corporation of North America, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. and Samsung Electronics USA.

Source: Plasma Display Coalition

CONTACT: Jim Palumbo, Plasma Display Coalition, +1-201-970-2222; Amy
Friend, Pioneer, +1-310-952-2507, amy.frien@pioneer-usa.com; Will Safer,
Panasonic, +1-201-392-6124, saferw@us.panasonic.com

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