Panasonic to Launch "Raise the Bar Tour" in U.S. and Canada

SECAUCUS, N.J., April 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic, a worldwide leader in Full HD 3D and Connected TV technologies, announced today the launch of the Panasonic Raise the Bar Tour – a seven-week, major market North American tour designed to give consumers a chance to experience Panasonic's 2012 line-up of home entertainment, digital imaging, home appliance and personal care products, including the latest Full HD Smart VIERA® TVs featuring a vastly expanded range of interactive apps for gaming, fitness, live sports, video streaming and much more.

The first leg of the Panasonic Raise the Bar Tour will kick off this week at The Grove in Los Angeles and The Prudential Center in Boston from April 11-15.  The tour will then make stops in major North American markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington, DC through May 27.  (See specific locations and dates below).

The Raise the Bar Tour will give visitors an opportunity to experience for themselves Panasonic's critically acclaimed 2012 line of Smart VIERA HDTVs, VIERA Connect-enabled IPTVs, Blu-ray Disc™ players, LUMIX cameras, HD camcorders, home appliances including microwave ovens, and personal care products including men's electric razors and women's beauty products.

The display will also feature a 3D theater where visitors will be able to experience stunning 3D content from the Beijing and Vancouver Olympic Games as well as a sneak peek at the upcoming London Summer Olympic Games which will be broadcast for the first time in 3D via a partnership between Panasonic and NBC Sports.  At each tour stop, visitors will also be able to record video messages for the Olympic athletes heading to London.  Panasonic is a worldwide Olympic sponsor in the HDTV, Blu-ray Disc™ and Digital Imaging categories.

"For consumers, seeing is believing.  We created the Raise the Bar Tour to give consumers across North America a personal look at all of our exciting 2012 products in home entertainment, personal care and home appliances," said Shiro Kitajima, President of Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America.  "Our 2012 product lines have truly raised the bar to a new level for consumers.  From our new Smart VIERA® Full HD 3D TVs and 3D Blu-ray Disc Home Theater systems to our ever-expanding VIERA Connect IPTV features, LUMIX digital cameras and camcorders and our innovative personal care and home appliances products, visitors to our tour will be able to experience for themselves how amazing and easy-to-use they all are."

Visitors at the Raise the Bar Tour will also have exclusive opportunities to win(1) 2012 Panasonic products by tweeting product photos from the tour stops to the Panasonic #RaisetheBar hash tag.  In addition, visitors that "check in" at Tour locations via Foursquare and Facebook Places will also win special commemorative prizes.

Also, in conjunction with the Tour, Panasonic will be giving away(1) a trip for two to the London Olympic Games this summer.

For more information on the Panasonic Raise the Bar Tour, including addresses and tour hours of operation, please visit http://www.panasonic.com/raisethebar and click on the "Come See Them Live" banner.

About Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America, a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American Subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations, offers a wide-range of consumer solutions in the U.S. and Canada.  The Company's portfolio of innovative consumer products ranges from VIERA Full HD 3D Televisions, Blu-ray players, LUMIX Digital Cameras, Camcorders, Home Audio, Cordless Phones, Home Appliances, Wellness and Personal Care products and more. 

Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs. Panasonic was the only Consumer Electronics company to be listed in the top ten brands on the Interbrand Best Global Green Brands 2011 ranking. Follow Panasonic @panasonicdirect, and additional company information for media is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

Panasonic Raise the Bar Tour Schedule

Notes:

(1) Complete contest rules for product giveaways and sweepstakes rules for the trip to London will be available at www.panasonic.com/london2012 beginning on April 11.

SOURCE Panasonic