Panasonic and Best Buy to Launch 3D TVs

Panasonic has recently partnered with Best Buy to promote their 3-D televisions, discounting their models up to 50% in an effort to encourage consumers’ adoption of the technology. A 50-inch TV will be sold for about $2,499.95; in Japan, the same model will be sold for about $4,800.They also hope to call back consumer demand for plasma display with these models. These displays will start on Wednesday. Panasonic hopes to sell at least one million of these in the fiscal year ending March 31, half of them being sold in the United States’ market. This announcement first appeared in Japan’s Nikkei newspaper on Sunday.

Here is a quote from Panasonic’s press release:

Beginning today, Panasonic’s Full HD 3D Home Theater System will be exclusively available at select Best Buy Stores via Magnolia Home Theater. The total combined SRP of the Panasonic Full HD 3D Plasma Home Theater System components is $2899.99.  The system consists of a 50-inch class (49.9” measured diagonally) Panasonic VIERA VT20 Plasma 3D HDTV (TC-P50VT20 – SRP $2,499.95) which includes one pair of Panasonic 3D Active Shutter Lens Eyewear (TY-EW3D10U), and the Panasonic BDT300 3D Blu-ray Disc Player (DMP-BDT300 – SRP 399.95).   Additional pairs of 3D eyewear will be available with an SRP of $149.95. The individual components of the system will also be sold separately.

Global shipments of TVs that are able to view 3-D video are predicted to grow from 200,000 units last year to 1.2 million. This year, the world’s largest television brands: Samsung Electronics Co., LG Electronics Inc., and Sony Corp. will be targeting the 3-D television market with products of their own.

[via Wall Street Journal] ,Panasonic]