SONY PRESS RELEASES

 New 1080P sets coming this fall...

Experience rear projection on a grand scale. The A2000 SXRD™ television brings the picture detail and clarity of SXRD display technology to the masses. Imagine: Full HD 1080p picture quality within a slim, compact design. The Grand WEGA™ SXRD™ Rear Projection HDTV is also equipped with Sony’s WEGA Engine™ system, which minimizes signal distortion to provide you with the best picture , and features enhanced connectivity with dual HDMI (1080p capability) and front component inputs (1080i). Add PC inputs, SRS® TruSurround XT audio enhancement technology and a compliment of other great features and you begin to see why Grand WEGA SXRD Rear Projection TVs are an excellent value. The Big picture has never looked better.

SXRD™ Panels SXRD technology is the latest display technology developed by the legendary television engineers at Sony to meet and exceed the demands of a High Definition image at its full 1080 line resolution. Digitally transmitted High Definition signals can contain over 2 million individual detail points that need to be displayed accurately and rapidly. SXRD displays those 2 million detail points per SXRD panel accurately since the 3 SXRD panels actually contain enough pixels to fully display a 1080 line picture without interlacing it. SXRD has the speed to create a smooth, film like image. The SXRD panels have a blistering 2.5ms response time (total rise and fall time), which exceeds the demands of even the most rapidly moving High Definition images. And SXRD creates highly accurate, natural colors because the 3-panel design displays all the colors, all the time.

Cinema Black Pro Cinema Black Pro is an exclusive Sony function designed to improve contrast expression especially in darker scenes. The Cinema Black Pro function is enabled by using either one or both of two features - Iris Control and Advanced Iris. The Iris Control function sets the maximum size of the iris opening and sets the overall level of brightness. There are six settings that allow the user to adjust the iris opening to best match the room lighting conditions.

The Advanced Iris function is a dynamic adjustment that automatically opens and closes the iris according to the gamma level of the picture on the screen. There are four different adjustments. The "High" setting is ideal for movies and music video content. And the "Off" setting works great for sports and news content.

WEGA Engine™ Video Processor Leveraging Sony’s TV heritage and engineering expertise, the latest generation of Sony’s exclusive WEGA Engine™ is born. Its fully digital signal-processing path includes video processing functions that are designed to improve overall picture quality. Among the key functions that have been added to the WEGA Engine are:

Green, blue and white color enhancer circuit which selectively adjusts common natural colors like green, white and blue color levels for a more vivid image.

Digital MPEG Noise Reduction Circuit which reduces MPEG artifacts such as "block noise" and "mosquito noise" caused by compression used in digital broadcasts used to maximize bandwidth.

Digital Contrast Enhancer circuit processes every field automatically selecting out details and optimizing contrast for each scene. Adaptive processing improves the low contrast parts of the picture providing crisp and vivid images with high contrast.

The overall result of WEGA Engine has to be seen to be believed.

HDMI™ and PC Inputs Designed for maximum versatility, Sony’s Grand WEGA™ XBR® line is equipped with a comprehensive range of input interfaces. The HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is the first industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface. HDMI™ technology supports enhanced or High Definition video, together with multi-channel digital audio to provide matchless image and sound reproduction. A D-Sub 15 input also allows connection to your PC, allowing you to use your high resolution Grand WEGA XBR TV as a computer monitor.

SONY PREVIEWS A HIGH(ER) DEFINITION TELEVISION FUTURE AT CES

Highlights Include 82-inch 1080p Flat-Panel LCD and Slim Cabinet SXRD High Definition TVs

LAS VEGAS (CES Booth # 14200), Jan. 4, 2006 - Sony Electronics is previewing the latest developments in high-definition television technology here at the Consumer Electronics Show this week.

One example is the world's first 82-inch Full HD 1080p flat panel BRAVIA LCD with Extended Video YCC (xvYCC) color reproduction technology. Another is a slim cabinet 55-inch 1080p Silicon X-tal Reflective Display (SXRD™) micro-display. Additionally, Sony previewed a new home network system compliant with Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standards and an all-in-one home theater system featuring an LCD TV/DVD player and 2.1 channel surround audio. "Our vision of "Higher Definition" is embodied by championing the highest possible picture quality, seamless integration with A/V devices and matching aesthetic appeal," said Randy Waynick, senior vice president of the Home Products Division at Sony Electronics.

Expanding the scope of full 1920 x 1080 HD resolution, Sony's 82-inch xvYCC-compliant BRAVIA LCD prototype features Triluminous LED backlighting. The xvYCC technology expands the current color data range of video by approximately 1.8 times more*. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is currently planning to standardize xvYCC. "This prototype is a statement of Sony's intention to being at the forefront of the technology," Waynick said. "The 82-inch BRAVIA not only illustrates that LCD is ready to challenge plasma in the larger screen size market, but that we are continuing to strive for picture quality perfection."

Also being spotlighted at CES is Sony's new 55-inch SXRD HDTV featuring a slim cabinet that is 30 percent thinner than the previous 50-inch SXRD model. Sony's SXRD displays have been hailed by critics as among the best TVs and projectors ever made. The new slim rear projection design provides flexible options for people looking for large screen TVs for smaller spaces without sacrificing picture quality. Also, unlike other slim cabinet rear projection televisions, Sony's SXRD model achieves its slim profile while maintaining the same height ratio found in SXRD models previously introduced. "SXRD remains a very important focus for us and this new model demonstrates how the microdisplay will fit into Sony's future of higher definition," Waynick added.

Preparing for that future when home entertainment products will feature easy plug and play Ethernet or WiFi wireless networking, Sony also previewed a TV-centric digital home network featuring the Xross™ Media Bar® (XMB) user interface. Based on DLNA industry standards, the network utilizes XMB to provide easy on-screen access and control of connected content servers and devices like PCs, personal video recorders, DVD players, and digital cameras, so that consumers can enjoy their TV programs, photos and music from anywhere in the home. Also being previewed is a new concept in packaged home theater systems. Merging a 32-inch LCD TV, DVD/SA-CD player and 2.1 channel surround sound system, the unit's space-saving design appeals to those looking for a high quality home theater solution that is easy to use and stylish. The system features a motorized audio unit that automatically slides down, revealing a 32-inch high definition LCD TV. Also featuring a powerful subwoofer and Sony's 32-bit S-Master® digital amplifier with S-Force® Pro 2.1 channel surround system, the system delivers realistic surround sound without rear speakers

SONY DADC ANNOUNCES GLOBAL BLU-RAY DISC ROLL-OUT Blu-ray Disc Production to begin in Late February 2006

Terre Haute, IN, January 4, 2006 - Sony DADC today announced its disc production plans for the new Blu-ray disc format.

Beginning in late February of 2006, Sony DADC will be ready to accept orders and manufacture 25GB Blu-ray Discs on a global basis. The first production will begin in Sony's Shizuoka, Japan facility and will accommodate both local and export demand. The Sony DADC facility in Terre Haute, IN will start production by May 2006, and the Salzburg, Austria plant will commence production by July 2006.

Throughout the remainder of 2006, Sony DADC will continue to add equipment on a global basis, and will reach a capacity of 5 million units per month for the US and 2.5 million units per month for both Japan and Europe. This will be accomplished with a total of 30 replication lines. By the late summer of 2006, all facilities will be equipped to manufacture both the 25GB and 50GB versions of the Blu-ray disc format. The initial lines will utilize a sheet-type process. The spin process, which has been successfully developed, will be implemented when second generation lines are developed. "Sony DADC is committed to playing a key role in the global establishment of the Blu-ray format. Over the last 18 months, our engineers have been able to perfect the production process for Blu-ray discs, and we are now ready to begin manufacturing," stated Dieter Daum, President, Sony Disc & Digital Solutions.

"Sony DADC has been privileged to be involved with Blu-ray manufacturing preparations both internally and with our customers for well over a year now. We will support all of our customers during the launches of BD video and PlayStation 3 in the coming year and beyond," states Bob Hurley, Executive Vice-President, Sales & Marketing.

About Blu-ray Disc

Blu-ray Disc is the next generation optical disc format developed for high-definition video and high capacity software applications. A single layer Blu-ray Disc will hold up to 25 GB of data and a dual layer Blu-ray Disc will hold up to 50 GB. This greater storage capacity enables the Blu-ray Disc to store up to five times the amount of content than is possible with current DVDs.

About Sony DADC

Sony DADC, a leading producer of optical disc media, has cutting-edge optical media manufacturing facility locations in Terre Haute, IN and Pitman, NJ. Although widely known for its quality disc production and distribution services, Sony DADC also develops and delivers dynamic technologies that not only protect disc content, but also transform discs into powerful marketing tools by adding secure links to bonus web-site content or prize incentives. Sony DADC operates within the Sony Corporation of America corporate group. Visit us at www.sonydadc.com or call 1.800.358.7316 for more information