IRVINE, CA — April 8, 2002 — At Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America’s national news conference and dealer line show, the company announced the introduction of their HD-Upgradeable plasma display and corresponding digital receiver. The company noted that the 50" 16:9 widescreen plasma television sets an industry standard by being fully upgradeable into a complete high-definition television system with the addition of the HD-5000 digital receiver, which is connected via the company’s new secure MonitorLinkä connection.

"As the company that introduced the first consumer plasma televisions in the US market, we are pleased to introduce these new ground-breaking products," said Max Wasinger, senior vice-president of sales and marketing at MDEA. "Until now, a consumer could purchase an expensive plasma display and then be forced to connect it via analog connections, with the risk that these analog connections would become obsolete or limited in content access due to copy protection requirements. Our HD-5000 digital receiver and MonitorLinkä provide secure connections to the plasma for protected content," he added.

The company said that the PD-5010 HD-Upgradeable Plasma would deliver in early Fall 2002 with a suggested value price of $18,000.

"One of the limitations of today’s plasma systems is that consumers have been purchasing monitors without all the benefits of a TV’s full electronics such as analog and digital tuners, picture-in-picture, and on-screen control of inputs and outputs," said Robert Perry, vice-president of marketing. "The HD-5000 digital receiver is in essence a complete digital television, without the display. When connected to the PD-5010 HD plasma display, the consumer has all the features of an MDEA integrated HDTV, including a digital receiver, multiple analog tuners, IEEE 1394 interfaces, Home Audio Video interoperability (HAVi) software, and MDEA’s revolutionary NetCommandä on-screen, icon-based home theater control system."

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. manufactures and markets a comprehensive line of premium quality high-definition projection televisions, plasma displays, satellite and broadcast receivers, DVD players, and digital and analog VCRs for consumer home theater use. Recognized as the world leader and innovator of big screen and digital television receiver technology, MDEA develops AV products that lead the industry in performance, ease-of-use and system integration.

For additional information about MDEA, visit http://www.mitsubishi-tv.com.

For More Information:
Cayce Blanchard
Mitsubishi Electric News Bureau
714/229-3837
cayce.blanchard@meus.mea.com