Panasonic prices new Blu-ray player
Third-generation machine to retail for $699.95
By Danny King -- Video Business, 5/6/2008
MAY 6 | Panasonic Electronics said today that its third-generation Blu-ray player will be priced $200 more than the company’s most recent high-definition machine.
Panasonic’s DMP-BD50, which will include the BD Live function that allows users to download images and compete in multi-player Internet games, will retail for $699.95. The Matsushita Electric Industrial unit, which didn’t disclose a release date, introduced the model at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January.
Matsushita is trying to use the new player to help boost earnings at its components and devices unit, which accounted for 15% of the parent company’s sales for the year ended March 31 and 20% of its operating profit, Matsushita said in a statement last week.
Panasonic’s second-generation high-definition player, the DMP-BD30, was released last November and was priced at $499.95.
