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OpenTV Software Integrated with Panasonic Digital Television Sets Shipped in Japan (5/2/2004)

Matsushita Electric, the Manufacturer of Panasonic Brand Televisions, Has Shipped Digital Television Sets Within Japan That Incorporate a Jointly Developed Integrated Browser

OpenTV (Nasdaq:OPTV), one of the world's leading interactive television companies, today announced that Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE:MC), best known for its Panasonic brand name, has incorporated a jointly-developed integrated browser in all of its Panasonic VIERA(TM) digital televisions and Panasonic OEM digital set-top boxes now being distributed in Japan. Matsushita began shipping digital televisions compliant for digital terrestrial broadcasting in September 2003. The browser is the first integrated browser capable of browsing both BML 3.0 (Broadcast Markup Language) and HTML 4.0 (Hyper Text Markup Language) content. BML content is used solely in Japan, while HTML content is used in most other countries. By incorporating both, the browser is capable of browsing any important content worldwide. The shipments since September, 2003 represent the first large scale distribution within Japan of television sets capable of providing compelling digital content via broadcast, ADSL or Ethernet connections.

Digital terrestrial broadcasting began in Japan on December 1, 2003. The Japanese government and Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) have mandated that television sets capable of decoding digital terrestrial signals must also be able to browse BML 3.0 content. BML is the standard markup language for digital interactive data services for digital terrestrial broadcasting in Japan. The integrated browser product also meets the requirements of the specification by the NetTV Association. The product was specially designed to be easily portable to any digital television or digital television receiver. By providing standards-based BML support, OpenTV has shown its commitment to the Japanese market; and by also providing HTML support, OpenTV has provided additional value in its browser product. With this broader browsing capability, Matsushita will have the capability to market these types of televisions both inside Japan and elsewhere.

"We have had a rewarding partnership with Matsushita for over six years in several countries, which has led to the successful development of this browser solution for Panasonic TV sets," said James Ackerman, CEO, OpenTV. "Deploying these advanced television sets is the first step towards increased iTV capability for Japanese broadcasters and CE manufacturers."

"OpenTV showed that it is committed to customizing a product to meet the needs of the Japanese market and the objectives of Matsushita. Our long-term partnership with OpenTV has resulted in a significant shipment of VIERA(TM) television sets," said Ken Sakamoto, General Manager -- Digital Television Network Solution Center, Matsushita. "The successful deployment of these new lines of digital television sets has introduced a new age in digital television."

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