(IBC-Amsterdam, Netherlands--September 15, 2008) Panasonic has announced a major European distribution initiative for its innovative AVCHD camera range in a sales agreement with a network of specialists in major European countries.
Techni Ciné Phot in France, ComLine in Germany, Esprinet in Italy, Komplett in Scandinavia, and Holdan in the United Kingdom will sell and support the AVCHD product range, bringing for the first time the advantages of solid-state storage and IT-based workflows to a broad new base of users seeking professional features in a cost-sensitive package.
The AVCHD range of camcorders and supporting products offers many of the workflow and operational benefits pioneered in Panasonic's market-leading P2 range of high-end professional products, and use Panasonic's codec based on H264 for exceptionally compact file sizes with outstanding image quality, far exceeding comparable MPEG-based formats.
"Panasonic's AVCHD distribution will focus on the AG-HMC71 and AG-HMC151 cameras, with aggressive promotion and an educational programme showcasing the benefits of the technology," said Nela Pertl, European Provideo Product Manager at Panasonic Professional and Broadcast IT systems (PBITS).
The AG-HMC71 (launched in April 2008) is the industry's first shoulder-mounted AVCHD camcorder, and shares the reliable tapeless workflow of the AG-HMC151. The AG-HMC151 is scheduled to be available for purchase in September 2008.
"The distribution agreement marks the beginning of an intensive promotion of the AVCHD format and product range by Panasonic," says Hideo Yonenaga, European Sales Manager, Panasonic Professional Broadcast & IT Systems (PBITS). "The AVCHD product line will be a major contributor to Panasonic's revenues, and we expect to see rapid growth in the installed base over the coming year, with a series of new product announcements adding to the momentum."
Panasonic's AVHCD camcorder range brings the benefits of solid-state recording to budget-conscious professionals. Recording onto an SD/SDHC card offers a fast and simple IT-compatible workflow and ensures ultra-reliable performance without moving parts in the recording process.
The cameras are resistant to shock, vibration, temperature change, and extreme weather conditions, and they offer instant access to the recorded footage — without the need to ingest or digitize — for rapid editing and post production, and uncompromised quality.
In addition, SD and SDHC memory cards are inexpensive, widely available, and can be reused repeatedly. Because AVCHD records video as digital data files, content can be transferred and stored on affordable, high-capacity hard-disk drives (HDD) and optical storage media, and then transferred to new ones as advanced technology is introduced in the future.
"These outstanding cameras are an exciting new development in the prosumer market," says Klaus Preuschhof of Comline in Germany. "We have seen Panasonic's professional P2 range of cameras revolutionizing production workflows at major broadcasters throughout Europe, and we have confidence that the AVCHD range will have the same effect for our customers."
"The AG-HMC71 and AG-HMC151 represent an unprecedented combination of high-end features at a breakthrough price," says Ulf E. Andersen of Komplett ASA in Norway. "Customers will have the benefit of high-quality HD production, with the convenience of storage on readily available SD/SDHC cards and a wide range of editing software."
"These cameras will appeal strongly to our customers because they offer a significant advancement in technology," says Alain Ouelhadj of Techni Ciné Phot in France. "Panasonic's P2 professional range of cameras has been the most successful tapeless technology with European broadcasters and filmmakers. We are now able to bring the benefit of credibility and experience to Web journalists, corporate videographers, law enforcement agencies, and many others."
"Professional-level features and performance together with superb image quality make these cameras a powerful proposition, and we expect to see them establishing a major share of the market in 2008," says Chris Daniels at Holdan Company in the United Kingdom.
"We are very proud to be involved within Panasonic's European network as the representative distributor for the Italian market. Thanks to this agreement, Esprinet will boost its AVCHD digital camera range and will also be able to provide Panasonic with its Internet-based business model focused on content delivery," says Simona Ceriani, Digital Home Business Unit Manager at Esprinet.
More information is available at
www.panasonic-broadcast.com
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