PlayStation: Games & Network Services
Music
Pictures: Movies & TV Shows
Consumer Electronics: Entertainment Technology & Services
Imaging & Sensing Solutions
Financial Services
New Initiatives
Delivering Excitement, Passion, Joy and Compassion to the World.
Pause
Play
Sony's Purpose & Values
News Releases
Corporate Blog
Our Business
Brand
Corporate Report
History
Corporate Data
Affiliated Companies
Sony's PurposeFill the world with emotion,through the power of creativity and technology.
Imaging and Sensing
Sony CSL
Sony AI Inc.
AI Initiatives
Sony Innovation Fund
VISION-S
Human-Centered Design
R&D Center
Technology That Inspires Emotion
Careers
World Map
Employees
Environment
Social Contribution
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Accessibility
Sustainability Report
Sony and Sustainability
Message from the CEO
Response to COVID-19
Creating a world filled with emotion. For the next generation.
Philosophy
Stories
Interviews & Lectures
Gallery
News
Create new values through the power of design.
IR News
IR Library
Earning Announcement
Corporate Bonds & Ratings
Investor Relations
Search
The press releases on this website are provided for historical reference purposes only. Please note that certain information may have changed since the date of release.
July 13, 2006
Panasonic (Matsushita Electric) Sony Corporation
Tokyo, Japan, July 13, 2006--- Panasonic, the brand name for which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is known and Sony Corporation (hereafter Sony) announced jointly today the commencement of licensing for “AVCHD” the high definition (HD) digital video camera recorder format, as well as expansion of the format’s specifications. Panasonic and Sony announced basic specifications for “AVCHD” on May 11th this year, and since then have extensively promoted the format throughout the industry while preparing for licensing. Then, the two companies have decided to include memory cards (SD Memory Card and Memory Stick) and hard disk drives as applicable recording media of the format in addition to previously-announced 8cm DVD. This is for the purpose of broadening the range of applicable media, thereby allowing wide variety of products to be developed by various manufacturers. The new specification was defined as “AVCHD” format Version 1.0. The two companies have also developed licensing programs for playback appliances and PC software in addition to the one for video cameras, so that environment for playing back AVCHD content will be expanded. This will allow users to enjoy shooting high definition footages with their camcorders and playing them back or editing them on a wide range of products.
1) AVCHD format and logo license for Video Cameras 2) AVCHD format and logo license for Players 3) AVCHD format license for PC Software
Please visit the AVCHD Information Web Site http://www.avchd-info.org/ Panasonic and Sony have been promoting this format extensively throughout the industry as the new HD digital video camcorder format best suited for the coming High Definition era and the following companies have expressed their support for “AVCHD” to date. Through these licensing programs, Panasonic and Sony will continue promoting “AVCHD” in earnest, with a view to expanding the market for consumer-use HD video camera. Adobe Systems Incorporated CANON INC. CyberLink Corporation InterVideo, Inc. Nero AG PIONEER CORPORATION SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,LTD. SHARP CORPORATION Sonic Solutions Ulead Systems, Inc.
Best known by its Panasonic brand name, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of US$76.02 billion for the year ended March 31, 2006. The company's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, New York (NYSE:MC), Euronext Amsterdam and Frankfurt stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company’s website at http://panasonic.net
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading personal broadband entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $64 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006. Sony Global Web Site: www.sony.net