Panasonic Brings Photos, Videos to Consumers’ Living Rooms with Google and Youtube

Panasonic, the leading brand by which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC) is best known, and YouTube today announced plans to bring big screen High Definition TV viewers quick and easy access to millions of originally created videos from YouTube directly from Panasonic’s new VIERA® PZ850 line of Plasma Internet-connected HDTV’s. The new VIERA HDTV’s, equipped with VIERA CASTTM, also include easy and seamless access to Picasa Web Albums, a free online photo-sharing service from Google.

Panasonic’s new VIERA PZ850 series Plasma HDTV’s with VIERA CAST will enable consumers, using the new and elegant Panasonic VIERA CAST interface, to easily browse, find and watch free videos from YouTube and view photos from their Picasa Web Albums in the comfort of their living room.

"We are thrilled to introduce Panasonic VIERA PZ850 series Internet-Connected HDTV’s with virtual one-click access to YouTube and Picasa Web Albums from Google" said Toshihiro Sakamoto, President of Panasonic AVC Networks Company. "This is the first time mainstream consumers will be able to easily enjoy YouTube videos from the living room with the enhanced quality of a fully integrated widescreen TV experience. YouTube is already a huge worldwide sensation, and Panasonic VIERA Internet-connected HDTV’s will greatly expand users’ entertainment options"

The first generation of Panasonic VIERA PZ850 series Internet-connected HDTV’s will be available to consumers in spring 2008.

"We’re dedicated to providing users around the world with a great YouTube experience no matter where they are" said Steve Chen, co-founder and CTO of YouTube. "Working with an industry leader like Panasonic will deliver the same great YouTube experience that users have come to expect on their computers; browsing, finding and watching millions of YouTube videos from the comfort of their living room"

"One of the most powerful things about the Internet is the access it enables, and the family TV is a fun and useful way to access your photos" said Mike Horowitz, product manager for Picasa Web Albums at Google. "Consumers can put their favorite photos on the web and enjoy them with friends and family on a large screen from the comfort of their couches. Having Picasa Web Albums integrated into new Panasonic VIERA Internet-connected HDTV’s with VIERA CAST functionality helps us achieve our goal of putting consumers’ photos within easy reach wherever and whenever they want"

"Panasonic’s cooperation with YouTube and Google’s Picasa Web Albums exemplifies our commitment to leading the natural evolution of the Internet and extending it to the High Definition television" said Merwan Mereby, Vice President, New Business Development, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company, the consumer electronics sales division of Panasonic Corporation of North America.
About Panasonic

Based in Osaka, Japan, Panasonic AVC Networks Company is an internal division company of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC), which is best known worldwide by its Panasonic brand name. Panasonic Corporation of North America is based in Secaucus, N.J., and is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic Consumer Electronics is the consumer electronics sales arm of Panasonic Corporation of America. Information about Panasonic products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.
About YouTube

YouTube is the world’s largest online video community allowing millions of people to discover, watch and share originally created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small. YouTube is based in San Bruno, CA and is a subsidiary of Google, Inc.
About Google Inc.

Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit http://www.google.com.

Google, Picasa, Picasa Web Albums, and YouTube are trademarks of Google Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.