Pioneer and Euro1080 are the first to bring the High Definition TV experience into the European living room

Pioneer is proud to announce its partnership with Euro1080, the first European High Definition TV Channel based in Antwerp and the daughter company of Alfacam, a leading European TV Facilities company.

EURO1080, which started on January 1st 2004, broadcasts exclusively in high definition throughout Europe. The TV channel distributes high-quality content such as sports, music, shows and cultural events in HDTV format and with state of the art, digital sound.

Alfacam, which is handling the HDTV broadcast side of the venture, found a perfect partner for the consumer display side in Pioneer. From the start, Pioneer has focussed on bringing HDTV compliant plasma TVs to the global market.

HDTV, which is already a huge success in the United States and in Japan, constitutes a real revolution in the European audiovisual world. Currently, only standard definition TV sources are available in Europe via broadcasting (cable, terrestrial, satellite) or in package media format (VHS tapes, DVD). Standard definition TV in Europe has a resolution of 625 lines, whereas HDTV has a resolution of up to1080 lines resulting in a better picture quality.

Pioneer's high resolution progressive Plasma displays are HDTV compliant and accept both industry standard "High Definition" video formats - 1080i and 720p - and are perfectly matched for showing these HDTV images (*).

Marnix Somers, Director, Consumer Plasma Division, Pioneer Europe NV commented: "We are delighted to be able to be part of this project. We truly believe that High Definition technology is the standard for tomorrow. This killer application clearly demonstrates the technological innovativeness of our plasma technology to the consumer who wants to enjoy the quality of HDTV broadcast. We strongly believe that he will be missing out on the television revolution when buying a plasma screen, which is not ready for HDTV. Our XGA technology, which is HDTV compliant, in combination with this project demonstrates our strengths in building future proof products."

For further information, please contact your local Pioneer distributor:

(*) The Euro1080 HDTV signals are broadcast as 50Hz video in 1080i (1080 lines interlaced) format. Pioneer's new Plasma TV models PDP-434HDE / PDP-504HDE are amongst the first in Europe capable of processing this signal format.

About EURO1080
Euro1080 is the first European HDTV Channel that is on air as from January 1st 2004. Euro1080 broadcasts exclusively in High Definition throughout Europe. The Channel distributes high quality content, like sports, pop/rock, opera, classical music…in HDTV format. Euro1080 consists of 2 channels: a MAIN Channel distributing a daily programming to the European households, and an EVENT Channel distributing event programs (live or delayed live) to "event cinemas", cinemas equipped with electronic projection and 5.1 surround sound systems.

About Pioneer
Pioneer Corporation is a global leader in electronics and audio/video products for the home, car, commerce and industry, particularly in the two core multimedia technologies - Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) and plasma display panels (PDP). Its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: PIO), Euronext Amsterdam, Tokyo Stock Exchange, and Osaka Securities Exchange.

About ALFACAM
Alfacam provides TV-services to broadcasters and production houses. Alfacam's multicamera TV-trucks have travelled throughout Europe, and beyond. In 2002, some of their High Definition OB-vans operated overseas in Salt Lake City (Winter Olympics) and in Korea/Japan (World Cup FIFA2002). Alfacam accounts for more than 1.200 TV-jobs a year, of which today, 40% are produced in High Definition. Euro1080, the first European HDTV Channel is promoted by Alfacam nv, having established itself as a premier HD production company at the worldwide major television events of the last few years.