Hitachi Launches New LCD HDTV Product Line

[Gregg Lengling]

The Home Electronics Division of Hitachi America Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), announced the availability of its new LCD HDTV product line. The UltraVision Digital® 16:9 LCD series includes 60-inch (60V500) and 50-inch (50V500) rear-projection units, as well as a 28-inch (28HDL50) flat-panel unit.

"With the introduction of our new LCD HDTV monitors, Hitachi is pleased to offer high-definition display and performance, combined with an innovative design that extends the large-screen home theatre experience to a new range of design-conscious consumers," said Leo Delaney, Vice President, Marketing for the Hitachi America, Ltd. Home Electronics Division. "LCD is a rapidly growing segment of the industry, and we believe consumers will be impressed with the level of picture quality and the contemporary appearance of the units."

All models include Hitachi's VirtualHD™ 1080p digital video processor, DVI-HDTV (HDCP), 26-point advanced video processing, automatic 1080i 3:2 pulldown correction, and a four-step black enhancement feature.

The 60- and 50-inch models are built on the foundation of a high-contrast lens system, coupled with an anti-reflective screen system. These models also include a photo memory card PCMCIA slot. The PCMCIA slot supports a number of formats including, Compact Flash®, Smart Media™, Memory Stick®, Secure Digital™, Multi Media Card™, and IBM Microdrive™.

Hitachi's LCD HDTV line also includes Hitachi's new Learning AV NET. The system combines infrared-based control of a home theatre system with intelligent on-screen "soft keys." Additional features of Hitachi's LCD HDTV units include dual 181 NTSC tuners, illuminated remote controls, three-language on-screen display, sleep timers, closed caption decoder, and parental locks. Each unit also includes an adjustable color decoder, four-color temperature memory, and a black-and-white film color temperature setting.

Available in silver, the 60- and 50-inch units come with an optional TV stand or can be used as tabletop screens. The 28-inch flat-panel unit comes with detachable speakers and a swivel tabletop stand.

The 60V500 and 50V500 are scheduled for release in September 2003 and will retail respectively for $4,499.99 and $3,799.99. The 28HDL50 is scheduled for release in October 2003 and will retail for $4,499.99.

For more information about Hitachi America, Ltd., Home Electronics Division, visit //www.hitachi.com/tv.