December 2005

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Five Consumer-Electronics Companies Launch Plasma Display Coalition To Promote Plasma TVs To U.S. Market

NEW YORK, December 13, 2005 -- Five of the largest consumer-electronics companies in the world have united to launch an effort to promote the growth of the U.S. plasma-TV market. The five companies -- Hitachi Electronics, LG Electronics USA, Panasonic Corp. of North America, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. and Samsung Electronics USA --announced this week the formation of the Plasma Display Coalition, which will work to combat myths about plasma display panels (PDP) and to encourage sales of plasma TVs.

"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, president of the Plasma Display Coalition and a former Sony and Aiwa senior executive.

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, Palumbo said.

According to a press release issued by the Coalition, the five companies and their parent organizations have invested more than $10 billion in the R&D, design, manufacturing and marketing of plasma TV in the past decade. However, membership in the Coalition is open to all enterprises that manufacture, market and sell plasma TV panels.

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."

"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," Doherty added. "It's clear the coalition's member companies have individually and collectively driven plasma TV progress and quality on an unparalleled scale."

For more information on the Plasma Display Coalition, including how to join, contact Palumbo at 201-970-2222.