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To: Rarebird who wrote (26905)	12/19/1997 1:12:00 PM
From: DiViT	Respond to of 50808

DVD Players Bring ''Gee-Wiz'' Back To Holiday Gift Giving 12/19/97 Canada NewsWire (Copyright Canada NewsWire 1997) TORONTO, Dec. 19 /CNW/ - Holiday gift buying invariably presents the same, time-worn dilemma: What can I give them that I haven't given them before? This year, a host of consumer electronics manufacturers like Panasonic have the answer for a gift that transcends Christmas Past: DVD . This new video format puts movies on a CD-size disc with exceptional video quality and digital audio capable of six-channel surround sound. DVD has enjoyed the support of many Hollywood studios, resulting in a lineup of software titles that's unprecedented in the history of new video mediums. As you read this, nearly 200 movies are available on the new five-inch DVD disc; on Christmas day, expect that figure to blossom. Discs generally retail for between $24.95 and $29.95. '' DVD has that ''gee-wiz'' factor that makes for a great gift ... it's new, and it offers the best video quality consumers can get today,'' says Tak Tokunaga, manager of DVD for Panasonic. ''It has the added benefit of being a gift the whole family will enjoy.'' DVD players - most of which have suggested retail prices ranging from $600 to $1,000 - deliver nearly 500 lines of resolution, more than twice the sharpness of a videotape, and digital audio capable of Dolby Digital ''5.1'' channel surround sound. That's five full-frequency audio channels (left, centre, right, left-rear, right-rear) plus a ''low frequency effects'' channel for a subwoofer. It's this enveloping sound and rich, lifelike picture that make DVD the ultimate medium for ''home theatre.'' Beyond that, however, there's DVD 's vast storage capability. Movies can appear either widescreen or ''pan-and-scan'' on a single, two-sided disc, satisfying fans of both presentation standards, and many discs have interactive menus containing cast biographies, production information, multiple languages, interviews and other supplemental materials. Future discs will likely contain even more interactive features, such as selectable camera angles. All of this holds strong appeal for movie studios looking for new ways to present their catalogues to the public. The lineup to date is impressive. Along with Hollywood hits such as Batman and Robin and Conspiracy Theory, studios are mining their vaults and re-issuing nuggets like Adam's Rib and Casablanca with a level of clarity never before seen on a television screen. There are also a growing number of special interest and educational discs available, as well as short films that previously were not readily available. Tokunaga points out that software is becoming available nationwide, and an increasing number of video stores are renting discs. Also, many new movies are now being released on DVD the same day as on videotape. Panasonic DVD players are marketed in Canada by Panasonic Canada Inc. (PCI), a subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., (MEI) of Japan, one of the world's largest producers of electronic and electric products for consumer, business and industrial use. All prices are in Canadian dollars. (Consumers seeking more information on the company's products can call Panasonic's Customer Care Centre at (905) 624-5505, or access Panasonic's home page at www.panasonic.ca. /For further information: Julia Quinton, Heather Reid & Associates, (416) 972-5793, email: jquinton(at)hreid.com/ 08:04 ET