The Panasonic HD Plasma "window" for Sunrise with Mel and Kochie.

Panasonic is flexing its muscle in the plasma category with the placement of a massive 103-inch unit providing a high-definition backdrop behind Channel 7’s flagship Sunrise breakfast show.

The unveiling of the flat panel display (FPD) is a joint initiative between Panasonic which is the official television supplier to the Games and Channel 7 which screening the event in Australia.

It also co-incides with yesterday’s announcement by Samsung, the official telecommunications supplier to the Games that it would equip the Australian and New Zealand Olympic teams with 700 mobile phone handsets.

New Olympic-themed graphic
The Panasonic FPD will also display the show’s new Olympic-themed graphic to tie in with the Sunrise hosting of athletes’ family and friends during the Games.

Channel 7 has mounted the 103-inch panel on a mobile platform, so it can also be wheeled into position for The Morning Show and stored during news bulletins.

The Sunrise set also includes five 50-inch High Definition VIERA Plasma TVs, which are used to run logos and graphics as well as ‘play-off’ shots previewing the next segment before commercial breaks. The screens are also used as a backdrop during in-studio band performances.

Size ideal for large backdrop
Channel 7 resident director, Paul Slater, said: “The 103-inch panel takes high-definition footage of Martin Place from a camera mounted in the newsroom on the upper level, providing a streetscape behind the two presenters.

“The Full High Definition panel was ideal because of its sheer size, to provide the very large backdrop we needed behind the Sunrise desk. Also, the clarity and colour of the screen is incredibly realistic - most viewers think we have changed the set around and are presenting against a different window,” he added.

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