Panasonic launches 2008 Viera

Panasonic has announced the launch and availability of its 2008 Viera range of plasma and LCD televisions in India. The 2008 Viera models are available with features, including good picture quality, ease of operation, enhanced sound effects and environment-friendly plasma display panels, with an improved panel life of up to 1,00,000 hours. All the panels are made in Japan.

According to Hidenori Aso, Chairman-Sales and Service India, Panasonic, “We will invest $200 million (over Rs 850 crore) in the next three years towards brand positioning and modernizing our facilities. We also have plans to set-up new units. We are aiming at tripling our revenue from India operations in the next three years from current $350 million (about Rs 1,500 crore). Besides this, we shall open 200 Panasonic brand stores as well.”

“Panasonic is targeting 20-25 percent growth this fiscal. We currently have one assembly facility for CRT and LCD monitors in Noida with three-lakh units capacity per annum, small appliances unit in Chennai and two factories in Vadodara and Chennai for manufacturing dry batteries. We are planning to increase the production capacities of CRT and LCD TVs in our Noida facility. If the demand is high, we may consider setting up assembly units for plasma TVs as well in the future,” he added.

Currently, Panasonic provides plasma screens in the Indian market ranging from 42 to 103-inch. This year, Panasonic has introduced three new plasma variants, namely, TH-50PV80 (50-inch HD ready), TH-42PV80 (42-inch HD ready) and TH-42PV8 (42-inch HD ready). In addition, Panasonic will also be introducing two high-definition models, namely, TH-50PY850 (50-inch) and TH-65PY850 (65-inch). All the 2008 models contain the Tough Under Force (TUF) glass panel that covers the front glass of the plasma TV screen providing protection against impacts. These models also feature over 900 moving line picture resolution, dynamic contrast of 1,000,000:1; and an extended panel life of up to 1,00,000 hours.

Panasonic Plasma TH-42PV80 and TH-42PV8 are available at Rs 74,990 and Rs 69,990, respectively, and Panasonic Viera LCD TX-32LX800, TX-37LX80, TX-32LX80 and TX-32LE8 are available at Rs 54,900, Rs 59,900, Rs 46,900 and Rs 44,900, respectively through all authorized Panasonic channel partners in India.