Panasonic is to release a Blu-ray high-definition disc player in September. The player will cost under $1,500, and will coincide around the debut of a new 103-inch flat screen TV, also from Panasonic. Reid Sullivan, vice president merchandising, Panasonic's entertainment group, said that the company saw no need to develop a player to support both Blu-ray and the rival HD DVD format.
"We're introducing technologies that will all tie in together to propel Blu-ray. The flat panel or plasma TV is the engine pulling the train," said Sullivan.