Panasonic Electronics and the Eurosport Group have announced a new Europe-wide partnership - with Panasonic as the official partner to Eurosport's cutting-edge high-definition television (HDTV) simulcast service, Eurosport HD.
The deal between the world's largest manufacturer of consumer electronics and Europe's leading sports multimedia platform was time to coincide with the recent Eurosport HD channel launch. As part of the deal, Eurosport will use Panasonic HPX2100 and HVX201 high-definition (HD) cameras for coverage of the Olympic Games.
The main aim of Panasonic is to connect with consumers and promote HDTV in homes across Europe. David Nicholls, General Manager of TV Group, Panasonic Marketing Europe, said: "We are proud to be the official HD partner of Eurosport. The sports channel is setting trends in broadcasting, just as Panasonic's Viera flat-panel HDTVs are setting standards in the consumer electronics industry."
Eurosport now fully integrates Panasonic across its multimedia platform, which supports Eurosport's HD programming of major sporting events including the French Open Tennis Championship, UEFA Euro 2008, the Tour de France, the Beijing Olympic Games, and the US Open. On-air activity is backed by central and local market operations with joint promotions, special events, plus business-to-business and business-to-consumer public relations activities.
The combined objective for both companies is to associate the powerful attributes of the highest quality HDTVs from Panasonic with the unique sports offerings of Eurosport HD during major sporting occasions. Jacques Raynaud, Vice Chairman of Eurosport Group, said: "We share a common vision. We aim to deliver a new dimension in sports to viewers in as many HDTV-equipped homes as possible and in as many countries where Eurosport is broadcast, to 112 million homes and 59 territories across Europe."
Eurosport will broadcast the Beijing Games on a 24/7 basis. Thanks to HDTV, sports fans will experience the Olympics like never before with extraordinary picture quality.
Jaume Rey, Director of Panasonic Professional & Broadcast IT Systems Business Unit (PBITS), said: "We are very pleased that Eurosport HD's images will be shot with Panasonic HPX2100 and HVX201 cameras. The outstanding quality and performance of our cameras will ensure that Eurosport's coverage of this Olympic Games will be the best yet."
Meanwhile, Panasonic is setting an Olympic record of its own. Since 1988 Panasonic has been the official supplier of broadcast technology in all venues and at the Olympic Broadcast Centre to bring brilliant pictures to homes all over the world. The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will be the first to be produced entirely in HD.
Panasonic has supported the Olympic Games since becoming a member of the Olympic Partner Programme (TOP) for the Calgary Winter Games in 1988. As a TOP member, Panasonic fully subscribes to the ideals of the Olympic Movement, which strives to promote world peace through its various activities.
Further information is available at: www.panasonic-broadcast.com and www.eurosport.com.
(KMcA/JM)
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