Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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The American Ireland Fund posted its St. Patrick's Day 2008 message on the News Astrovision by Panasonic screen in New York's Times Square.

• The spot aired on the Astrovision screen 4 times an hour at
  7minutes, 22minutes, 35minutes and 52minutes after each hour.

• Click here to see the webcam of the Astrovision screen >

We are indebted to News Astrovision by Panasonic for their kind donation of this air time.

Info

Kieran McLoughlin
T: 212-689-3100
E: kmcloughlin@irlfunds.org

THE NEWS ASTROVISION BY PANASONIC

The News Astrovision by Panasonic on One Times Square is known as the visual centerpiece of Times Square, the "Crossroads of the World." Millions of people see the Astrovision on television, in the movies, or when they visit New York City.

Each year, this video screen landmark, initially installed in 1996 and constantly being upgraded, helps nearly one million people in Times Square count down the seconds toward the New Year. The Panasonic Sing-a-Long, a New Year's Eve tradition since it was initiated in 2003, has revelers joining together in song as lyrics are featured on the Panasonic Astrovision and three other giant video screens provided by Panasonic in the Times Square area.

Measuring nearly three stories high and four stories wide, the screen, which contains 1.5 million light-emitting diodes (LEDs), is capable of displaying more than a billion shades of color. This LED (light emitting diode) screen features the latest outdoor video screen technology with improved picture clarity and depth, brightness, durability and efficiency. Its lightweight, thin structure and easy maintenance make it ideal for unconventional outdoor installations.

The Astrovision screen features 18 hours of Panasonic and News Corp combined programming daily. News Corp., using Panasonic's Astrovision technology, will deliver at least three hours of live programming daily, including an hour of FOX5's "Good Day New York" from 7am to 8am, an hour of FOX News' "FOX & Friends" from 8am to 9am, and an hour of FOX News' "FOX Report with Shepard Smith" from 7pm to 8pm. News Corp will also deliver live feeds from Fox Sports' wide array of sports programming including Major League Baseball's League Championship and World Series, the National Football League, NASCAR's Daytona 500 and College Football's Bowl Championship series.

Panasonic programming on the Astrovision is used to promote Panasonic and its products. Because of its strong grass roots philosophy of social responsibility, a great portion of Panasonic's ad time is devoted to community service and non-profit organization announcements and events, including those from the New York City Police, Fire and Parks Departments, NYC & Co., and Broadway on Broadway. A landmark performance of "Madame Butterfly" was seen by thousands in Times Square on the Astrovision..

The remaining Astrovision programming space, which operates from 7am to 2am daily, offers an outstanding promotional platform for News Corp. content and Panasonic products as well as serve as a superb advertising opportunity for third parties.

The screen has the capacity, not only to go "live" in Times Square, but to broadcast live News Corp programming, turning the screen into a source of current events for visitors.

The screen has also become a welcoming beacon to visitors from all over the nation and the world. Once again, Panasonic, the USO and the United States Navy collaborated on a one-of-kind event where sailors in town for Fleet Week receive a special live greeting on the Astrovision.

About Panasonic Based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America markets a broad line of digital and other electronics products for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC) of Japan, and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Information about Panasonic and its products is available at www.panasonic.com. Additional company information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.