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By: Richard Del Cazzo
Web site: http://www.hdtv-hdtv.com
The first of Panasonic’s cable ready digital HDTV
sets is being introduced here at the Custom Electronic Design
& Installation Association (CEDIA) Expo today. The 53-inch
widescreen (16:9) projection high-definition PT-53WXD63 is
the first integrated DTV set to earn certified status from
CableLabs to connect directly to cable television systems
and receive digital services (which may be available from
some cable operators, at a fee)1. With the use of an authorized
CableCARD™, this TV can receive high definition and
other digital programs via cable, including premium channels,
without requiring a cable set-top box.
The introduction of the Panasonic HDTV PT-53WXD63 puts Panasonic
at the forefront of DTV development – with the consumer
in mind – according to Dr. Paul Liao, President of Panasonic
Technologies Company. "We are delighted to have this
leadership position in the cable television digital market,"
Dr. Liao said.
According to Ed Wolff, Vice President of Merchandising,
Panasonic HDTV Display Group, it is important for Panasonic
to lead the way in the DTV category. “In the next few
years our industry will undergo a remarkable change. We will
be adding ATSC tuners into all our TV products. Panasonic
plans to support the Digital Tuner Mandate by not only making
models that include the digital tuner but by adding the CableCard
feature to all our ATSC models as well,” Mr. Wolff said.
“The PT-53WXD63 is the first of 6 new Panasonic models
with ATSC/CableCARD that we will roll out to market over the
next 90 days.”
In addition to being digital-cable-ready, the PT-53WXD63
has Photo Viewer SD Memory Card and PCMCIA card slots for
viewing still picture images up on the TV screen. The set
also has an HDMI (High Definition and Multimedia Interface)
connector with HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection),
making it even more versatile in a home-theater set up. The
PT-53WXD63 is due by the end of September at an MSRP of $2,299.95.
Panasonic HDTV display products are marketed by Panasonic
Consumer Electronics Company.
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