Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×

Panasonic Releases TV Ship Dates, Prices

Secaucus, N.J. –

Panasonic

announced the availability of
the company’s initial wave of 2012 Smart Viera plasma, LED and LCD HDTVs.

Panasonic said models
in the ST50, UT50, and XT50 plasma series and the E50, ET5, E5 and X5 LED
series will be available this month. Also announced were ship dates on LED LCD
TV models, a 47-inch (available this month) and 55-inch (available in April and
May).

The 2012 LED LCD
model line features 16 models this year, up from seven a year ago.

Panasonic is also
spreading 3D capability among the new sets and is advancing its Viera Connect
IPTV platform to, among other things, include an open web browser in select
models.

Viera Connect is a
Cloud-based architecture supporting open app development.

Energy efficiency
was also improved this year in both LCD and plasma models. The 2012 Viera plasmas
use a newly improved phosphor mixture and more efficient electronics to deliver
a better picture at lower power levels, Panasonic said.

New LCDs employ advanced
LED IPS (in-plane switching) panels that reduce on-mode power consumption by
about 25 percent compared with last year’s models, the company said. 

Black level
performance has also been boosted in 2012 Smart Viera plasma HDTVs, and the
LCDs feature improved response times.

Many models also
use Panasonic’s “glass and metal concept” in cosmetic design.

Select Smart Viera
plasma models employ NeoPlasma Black 2500 to provide a crisp image with 2500
FFD (Focused Field Drive) technology even when the content shows very fast
motion, and to control the light, which enables viewers to see subtle details
in dark scenes, with the new 24,576-steps super fine gradation.

The 2012 panel
further reduces reflections and creates sharper pictures with higher contrast
in brighter environments. In addition, a new panel structure with improved
filter and pre-discharge control technology contributes to an increased native
contrast level.

All 3D models
include DLNA connections to network with PCs and other devices to share digital
entertainment content between similarly configured devices.

The Smart Viera
LED lineup continues to benefit from the addition of the IPS LED Panel
technology.

The 2012 LED
models deliver a wide viewing angle with almost no picture degradation at off-angle
viewing and offer up to 1,920 backlight scanning for higher moving picture
resolution during fast action scenes, with a reduction of afterglow resulting
in a smooth, crisp image.

The high-performance,
high-speed, high-transmittance panel materials contribute to the 178-degree
color viewing angle, high contrast performance and fast response time, which in
turn dramatically reduces artifacts and 3D crosstalk.

The first Smart Viera
plasma series to hit the market features self-illuminating panels with deep
black levels and Neo Plasma technologies, providing an Infinite Black Filter
with a high-efficiency panel that generates the best balance of black and white
under bright environments. 

Select 2012 models
employ the NeoPlasma Black 2500 (VT/GT/ST), a 2 million pixel dimming driver, a
new custom driver LSI and a fast switching phosphor panel on all of Panasonic’s
1080p 3D models.

The ST50 series is
the first of Panasonic’s 2012 plasma models to ship.

The 50-inch TC-P50ST50
and 55-inch TC-P55ST50 are now available, while the 60-inch TC-P60ST50 and 65-inch
TC-P65ST50 will be available in March and April, respectively.

The ST50 models
include the Infinite Black Pro panel; FullHD 3D; Viera Connect with a web
browser and built-in Wi-Fi; 1080p Full HD resolution; 2500 FFD (Focused Field
Drive); fast switching phosphors; 2D-to-3D conversion; Social Networking TV,
which allows the user to simultaneously view a program on the TV and connect
with their Twitter and/or Facebook account on the same screen; 3D Real Sound
with 8-train speakers; Media Player; 
Bluetooth; DLNA; Viera Link; three HDMI connections and two USB ports.

The 42- and
50-inch FullHD 3D UT50 series models will be available later this month. 

The 55-inch TC-P55UT50
and the 60-inch TC-P60UT50 models will be available in April and May,
respectively. All offer 3D 1080p resolution, Viera Connect (Wi-Fi ready), 2500
FFD, fast switching phosphors, 2D-to-3D conversion, Social Networking TV, media
player, Bluetooth, DLNA, Viera Link, two HDMI connections and two USB ports.

The XT50 series is
a value-series line with 3D capability and online movie streaming. The 50-inch TC-P50XT50
offers 720p HD resolution and 2D to 3D conversion; Bluetooth; Media Player;
DLNA; Viera Link; two HDMI and two USB connections and will be available this
month.

The E50 series
features mostly larger-sized LED LCD TV models with slim-design cabinets,
including the 42-inch TC-L42E50, 47-inch TC-L47E50, and the 55-inch TC-L55E50. All
offer 360 backlight scanning, improved resolution of fast-moving images, 1080p,
Viera Connect, Social Networking TV function, DLNA, a PC input, four HDMI terminals
and two USB ports.

The series is
Wi-Fi ready and Energy Star certified.

The ET5-series models
are Panasonic’s first 3DTVs to use passive polarized 3D glasses, and four pair
will ship with each set.  The 47-inch TC-L47ET5
and 55-inch TC-L55ET5 ship this month while the 42-inch TC-L42ET5 ships in
April. The ET5 models incorporate an IPS LED panel, 360 backlight scanning, Viera
Connect with built-in Wi-Fi and browser, 2D-to-3D conversion, Social Networking
TV function, media player, DLNA, Energy Star compliance, four HDMI and two USB
terminals, and a PC input.

The four E5-series
LED LCD TVs available this month include an IPS LED panel, 1080p resolution, online
Movies, DLNA networking, four HDMI terminals, two USB ports, a PC input, Wi-Fi
connectivity and Energy Star compliance.

Also available
this month is the 32-inch LED LCD TV model TC-L32X5, featuring the IPS LED
panel, three HDMI and one USB connections, and an SD memory card slot.

Panasonic’s
top-of-the-line plasma series, the VT50 and GT50, will be available later this
month and in April. Top-of-the-line LED models will begin shipping this month,
starting with the TC-L47DT50. It will be followed by the TC-L55DT50 (shipping
in April) and the TC-L55WT50 and the TC-L47WT50 (both shipping in May).

Below are the suggested
retails for the models shipping this month:

Plasma:

  • TC-P50ST50- $1399,
    50 inches

  • TC-P55ST50 – $1699,
    55 inches

  • TC-P60ST50- $2099,
    60 inches

  • TC-P42UT50- $799,
    42 inches

  • TC-P50UT50- $1099,
    50 inches

  • TC-P50XT50- $799,
    50 inches

LED LCD:

  • TC-LL42E50 – $899,
    42 inches

  • TC-L47E50 – $$1099,
    47 inches

  • TC-L55E50 – $1699,
    55 inches

  • TC-L47ET5 – $1299,
    47 inches

  • TC-L55ET5 – $1899,
    55 inches

  • TC-L32E5 – $499,
    32 inches

  • TC-L37E5 – $599,
    37 inches

  • TC-L42E5 – $679,
    42 inches

  • TC-L47E5- $849, 47
    inches

  • TC-L32X5 – $399,
    32 inches

Pricing for the
remaining 2012 models will be announced as they prepare to ship.

Featured

Close