Panasonic Releases Cutting-Edge DivX Certified DVD-Recorder Devices

New Multi-Purpose Players Enable Users to Play Back DivX Video

SECAUCUS, N.J., and SAN DIEGO, Calif. – May 17, 2006 – Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company and DivX Inc., the digital entertainment company that created the DivX media format, announced today that Panasonic will incorporate the DivX codec into two of its 2006 DVD-Recorders. The DMR-EH55S DVD-Recorder with HDD and the DMR-EH75VS DVD-VHS-HDD Recorder bring a range of popular functionality to consumers, including the playback of DivX encoded video files.
Both models feature HDMI single cable connection with up-conversion to 1080i. The Panasonic DMR-EH55 is a DVD recorder with a 200 GB built-in hard disc drive; SD slot and DV Input. The Panasonic DMR-EH75 is a combo VHS-DVD recorder deck with an 80GB built-in hard disc drive. They provide very versatile solutions to users who want extreme flexibility in the formats they use for content delivery.

Products that bear the DivX Certified logo have undergone a rigorous testing program to ensure interoperability, security and visual quality. DivX Certified products enable consumers to create, play and share high-quality video content across a range of devices and platforms.

“These innovative multi-function Panasonic DVD recorders, combined with our DivX video technology, enable users to watch a wide variety of compelling content, how and when they want,” said Bill Holmes, Vice President of Consumer Electronics at DivX, Inc. “We are excited that Panasonic has expanded DivX into their recorder line to bring this solution to home theaters around the world.”

“Continuing our commitment to providing the consumer with the best quality performance from their DVD recorder, Panasonic is utilizing DivX technology to insure that the user maximizes their experience,” said Alberto Reggiani, National Marketing Manager for DVD at Panasonic. “These new devices allow users to playback and record video, but with DivX, consumers also can access an entire world of quality digital video.”

For more information on the DivX Certified program, visit www.divx.com/certified. For more information on Panasonic’s line of consumer electronics products, visit https://www.panasonic.com/

About DivX

DivX creates products and services designed to improve the experience of media. Our first product offering was a video compression-decompression software library, or codec, which has been actively sought out and downloaded over 180 million times in the last four years, including over 50 million times during the last twelve months. We have since built on the success of our codec with other consumer software, including the DivX Player application. We distribute this software from our website, DivX.com, which averaged over five million unique visitors per month during the first quarter of 2006. We also license our technologies to consumer hardware device manufacturers and certify their products to ensure the interoperable support of DivX-encoded content. Over 35 million DivX Certified hardware devices have been shipped worldwide, including approximately 8.5 million devices reported to us by our customers during the fourth quarter of 2005. In addition to technology licensing to consumer hardware device manufacturers, we currently generate revenue from software licensing, advertising and content distribution.

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (NYSE: MC) and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D; operations. Information about Panasonic products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.