Sony, Panasonic and Philips Executives to Keynote Day 2 of DisplaySearch's HDTV Conference: The Future of Television

Business Wire, June 22, 2006

AUSTIN, Texas -- DisplaySearch, an NPD Group company and the worldwide leader in display market research and consulting, is proud to announce Day 2 keynotes for the Fourth Annual DisplaySearch HDTV Conference: The Future of Television, which will take place on August 15-16 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.

According to DisplaySearch president Ross Young, "The TV market is facing rapid change with revenues surging on increased adoption of more expensive flat panel TVs and microdisplay RPTVs. North American TV revenues were up 23% year-over-year in Q1'06 with HDTVs accounting for 44% of all TVs purchased. In order to find out how TV manufacturers are responding to these changes and opportunities, we have invited top executives from the leading TV brands to keynote the event and discuss their vision of the future of the TV industry. We are extremely pleased that top executives, up to the president level, from three of the four largest TV brands in North America -- Sony, Panasonic and Philips -- will be keynoting.

TV Brand Keynote Session -- TV Market/Technology Outlook

The keynotes in this session are:

--Stan Glasgow, President, Sony Electronics -- Stan Glasgow is the president and chief operating officer of Sony Electronics Inc. He was appointed to the position in March 2006. Prior to this role he served as president of SEL's Consumer Sales Company where his responsibilities included management of the company's retail and online sales channels, in addition to oversight of the SonyStyle retail store strategy in the United States. Previously, Glasgow was senior vice president of SELs Information Technology Products Division. Glasgow joined Sony in 2001 as vice president of computer displays. Prior to joining Sony in 2001, Glasgow was the owner and president of Capetech Sales and CEO of Capetronic Computer Products Holdings Ltd.

--Yoshiro Takemoto, President, Panasonic AVC Networks Company America -- Yoshiro Takemoto is currently President of Panasonic AVC Networks Company America and Panasonic AVC Networks de Baja California, responsible for Panasonic's North American TV manufacturing. He started his 25 year career in displays with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co, Ltd. in 1979 and has held a variety of leadership positions within Panasonic.

Flat Panel TVs -- Will They Dominate All Categories?

This session will examine the future of the TV market. Can LCD and PDP TVs dominate all categories? Can they coexist? Is one better than another or does it depend on the application? Where are costs and prices going? How much capacity is being added? The keynote speaker is:

--Scott Levitan, SVP, Sales and Marketing, Flat TV, NAFTA, Philips -- Scott Levitan is senior vice president of marketing and sales for Philips Consumer Electronics North America, the Atlanta-based sales and marketing organization serving the North America Region for Philips Electronics. Scott leads the Philips' Premier Consumer Electronics business including Flat TVs, digital audio, remote control systems as well as new lines of business. He also manages the Philips' Consumer Electronics NAFTA marketing organization, with responsibilities for marketing communications, public relations, online sales and marketing, marketing intelligence and trade shows/events. Prior to his current position, Mr. Levitan held varied international marketing positions at Philips Electronics, including positions in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East/Africa.

In addition to the keynotes, executives from numerous other TV brands and component manufacturers will also be participating. Confirmed presenters represent the top six TV brands worldwide on a revenue basis, the top six LCD TV brands, the top four plasma TV brands and the top three microdisplay RPTV brands.

Other sessions during the two day event include:

--Rear Projection TVs: Can New Advances Accelerate Growth?

--Display Electronics: Maximizing Performance While Cutting Costs

--Mobile TV: How Prevalent Will it Become?

--Improving the HDTV Viewing Experience: What Other Advances Are Coming?

--HD Content Outlook -- The View from Movie Studios, Networks and Game Developers

--Distributing HD Content -- New Models, Markets, Challenges and Opportunities

--Lessons from Retail -- View from National, Regional, Online and Warehouse Club Channels

--Outlook for High Definition DVD Players -- What Does the Adoption Curve Look Like?

--The Digital Home -- The Future of Home Networking, Media Centers and the Set Top Box

Presenting companies for the two day conference include Amazon, Analog Devices, BitRouter, Bjorn's, CBS, DisplaySearch, DivX, ESPN, Genesis Microchip, Gennum, HDMI, HP, Ken Crane's, LGE, Luminus Devices, Mitsubishi, The NPD Group, Panasonic, Panasonic Hollywood Lab, Philips, Philips Lighting, Portrait Displays, Pro Buying Group, Samsung Electronics, Sharp, Sony Electronics, Syntax-Brillian, Texas Instruments, Toshiba, Ultimate Electronics and Warner Brothers.

For a full agenda, please visit http://www.displaysearch.com/hdtvconference.>