Panasonic and Timberlake Promote Connected TV at CES

9 Jan, 2012 By: Stephanie Prange

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LAS VEGAS — Justin Timberlake showed up at Panasonic’s press conference here at the International Consumer Electronics Show to introduce Myspace TV, which promises to allow TV viewers to integrate social networking into TV broadcasts and movies.

“We’re giving you the opportunity to connect your friends to your moments as they are actually happening,” Timberlake said.

In concert with Panasonic’s connected TVs, Myspace TV offers the “addition of a social layer” to traditional TV viewing, added Myspace CEO Tim Vanderhook.

Panasonic also touted IPTV partnerships with Flixster (the service Warner has integrated with the cloud-based digital copy platform Ultraviolet), with Disney for interactive books on TV and with Miramax through its app.

Executives also introduced remotes designed to be more consumer friendly and demonstrated greater interaction between tablets and big-screen TVs.

In addition to connected TVs, Panasonic executives continued to push 3DTV, saying 2012 would be a breakout year for 3D content.

Panasonic announced a partnership with NBC Sports Group on the U.S. 3D broadcast of the upcoming Olympics in London, trotting out two Olympic soccer stars, Alex Morgan and Heather O'Reilly. It will mark the first time that the Olympic Games will be distributed in the United States in 3D.

Panasonic will continue its DirecTV 3D partnership, and executives pointed out Martin Scorsese's enthusiasm for the format in directing the lauded film Hugo.

Hailing the growth of the format so far, executives said in 2012 93% of Panasonic's plasma TV models, 40% of its LCD TV models and four out of six of its Blu-ray players would be 3D capable.

 

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