Panasonic announces mid-range Full HD European VIERA LED LCD TV series

Full HD and state-of-the-art networking meets “beyond smart” TV features that include TV Anywhere and Remote Sharing

Amsterdam, 24th March 2014 - Panasonic has today unveiled its new mid-range VIERA LED LCD European TV series for 2014 - the AS650 and AS740 - boasting innovative new features that make for a smarter and more simple TV experience. With TV Anywhere you can access TV programmes or recordings from anywhere in the world, while Remote Sharing allows you to send images, videos or messages directly to your TV. To provide a fully intuitive and individual experience, my Stream offers a personalised channel of content for you and your family to enjoy.

Timeless, elegant design

With their timeless design and narrow frames, all models are eye-catchers in every living room and offer a truly cinematic experience.  The AS650 comes in four screen sizes from 42 to 60 inches. Additionally the AS740 series is available in three screen sizes from 42-55 inches.

Engineered for stunning picture quality

Thanks to the Direct LED (D-LED) backlight, the new series provide excellent image quality and uniform brightness. The advanced image processing technologies with the Dual Core Plus processor and 1200 Hz BackLight Scanning Intelligent Frame Creation Pro (BLS IFC) ensure ultra-fast movements and razor sharp details every time. The Brilliant Contrast also ensures the deepest blacks and brightest whites.

Smart networking capabilities to suit every home

The 2014 range provides the most flexible home entertainment experience through compatibility to a vast range of inputs. The AS740, with its built-in dual HD Tuner, enables the reception of all digital HD and SD programmes via satellite and DVB-T without the need for another receiver. This provides an optimum family TV experience, allowing you to watch one programme while another family member records or views their favorite show via a tablet or smartphone.

For Skype video calls, the integrated high-resolution camera in the AS740 automatically slides out during use and retracts after the call has finished.

TV anywhere you are

With the VIERA AS740 and AS650, you don’t have to be at home to access great content.  Using the Panasonic TV Remote 2 App and connecting to the Panasonic Cloud, you can stream live TV shows or movies on your tablet or smartphone wherever you are in the world from a USB hard disk drive connected to your TV. If you are travelling, TV Anywhere enables you to begin watching a movie at home, start recording before you leave the house and then continue to watch from where you left off when you reach your hotel. If you forget to start the recording, you can still do this on the road thanks to the Panasonic TV Remote 2 App.

It's never been easier to share important moments with friends or family instantly - from anywhere worldwide - thanks to Remote Sharing. Just use the Panasonic TV Remote 2 App on your smartphone or tablet to share messages, videos and pictures via the Panasonic Cloud to your TV at home, even while you’re on the road.

Intelligent features for the easiest operation

My Stream, available in the AS650 and AS740 series, totally redefines the TV viewing experience. The service provides individualised channels of personalised content for you and your family members, aggregated from a variety of sources. You have access to films and TV shows from cable, terrestrial broadcast, and Video on Demand (VOD) sources based on your viewing preferences, allowing you to easily access the content you love, without spending the time searching for it. Recorded content, home movies, family photos, web pages, and online videos are also seamlessly included in the my Stream interface.

Using the Panasonic TV Remote 2 App and the new “My Button” on the TV’s Touchpad remote, you can build up a personalised profile of your favourite content. Pressing this button alerts the TV that you specifically like the kind of content you are currently viewing and, using the programme metadata together with advanced algorithms, the service presents you with further recommendations.

Thanks to the Voice Assistant[1], available via the Touchpad remote and the TV Remote 2 App, my Stream also recognises the voice of each family member, enabling each to bring up their individualised my Stream at any time. In addition, the innovative voice guidance and control functions not only understand individual words, but also whole sentences, and the voice command functionality can also be used to control your TV.

The VIERA models are designed and built to ensure easy operation, even for the most non-technical of users. This includes an optimised My Home Screen, VIERA’s start-up screen that can be personalised to the individual preferences of each family member. There are now additional options for downloadable home screens, including screens themed around sports (football), gaming, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Eco Friendly

The new AS650 and AS740 offer smart eco functions and intelligent power saving controls to help save energy and conserve resources. An ambient light sensor automatically detects how bright the image should be and adjusts the display accordingly. Likewise connected devices consume power only when necessary.

Note to editors - Breakdown of 2014 mid-range European VIERA LED LCD TVs:

AS740

·  Full HD LED TV with 1200Hz (BLS) - high-speed panel for brilliant, smooth motion picture quality and 3D

·  my Stream - enjoy content recommended to match your preferences, easily via an intuitive interface

·  Built-in camera - take Skype video calls, or get your personalised My Home Screen from Face Recognition

·  TV Anywhere - your entertainment, from the TV to your Web-enabled mobile device, even outside the home

·  Freetime built-in

AS650

·  Full HD LED TV with 1200Hz (BLS) - high-speed panel for brilliant, smooth motion picture quality and 3D

·  my Stream - enjoy content recommended to match your preferences, easily via an intuitive interface

·  TV Anywhere - your entertainment, from the TV to your Web-enabled mobile device, even outside the home

·  Wide viewing angle - spectacular colour, contrast and brightness for best viewing from virtually any seat

·  Freetime built-in

[1] Voice Assistant: availability varies by location.