LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic, a global leader in Smart TV technology today announced that it has been selected by the editors at CNET (www.cnet.com) as a finalist in this year's Best of CES Awards for its Smart VIERA ZT60 Plasma HDTV.  Winners will be announced on Thursday, January 10, at 11:00 a.m. (PST) live at the CNET booth in the South Hall lobby.

The Best of CES Awards, THE OFFICIAL AWARDS OF CES, are produced and judged by CNET and recognize the hottest products at the 2013 CES, including a Best of Show and People's Voice Award selected by the CNET online audience.  The awards recognize the most innovative products that set the standard for all other products in the industry. Leading up to and throughout the show, CNET editors will be blogging about pre-show, buzz-worthy products in a variety of tech categories, including mobile apps, televisions, tablets, and cell phones and smartphones.

The ZT60 series is Panasonic's Full HD 3D Plasma flagship series and is available in two screen sizes - the TC-P65ZT60, 65-inch class and the TC-P60ZT60, 60-inch class. With 1080p resolution, the ZT60 series comes with advanced features for connectivity including My Home Screen, Swipe and Share 2.0, Touch Pad Controller, Voice Interaction/Guidance, three HDMI and three USB connectors, along with VIERA Connect™, allowing consumers to connect to applications through the internet via built in Wireless LAN and Web Browser.  2D-3D conversion transforms 2D content to 3D images in real-time.  The ZT Series also includes two pairs of Active Shutter 3D Eyewear.

As a finalist for a Best of CES Award, the Panasonic Smart VIERA ZT60 HDTV is also eligible to win a People's Voice Award. Online viewers following CNET's in-depth coverage of the 2013 CES – from videos to product reviews and slideshows from the show floor – can participate by voting for their favorite product at cnet.com/pv.  Voting is open to the public from Wednesday, January 9th at 10:30 a.m. and closes at 10 a.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, January 10th.

Videos of the finalist products can be found at http://www.cnet.com/ces.

About Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America
Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America, a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American Subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) and the hub of Panasonic's U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations, offers a wide-range of consumer solutions in the U.S. and Canada. The Company's portfolio of innovative consumer products ranges from VIERA Full HD 3D Televisions, Blu-ray players, LUMIX Digital Cameras, Camcorders, Home Audio, Cordless Phones, Home Appliances, Wellness and Personal Care products and more.

Panasonic is pledged to practice prudent, sustainable use of the earth's natural resources and protect our environment through the company's Eco Ideas programs. In the 2012 Interbrand Annual Best Global Green Brands ranking, the Panasonic brand jumped four spots to number six: http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/Best-Global-Green-Brands/2012-Report.aspx. Follow Panasonic on Twitter @panasonicusa, and additional company information for media is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

SOURCE Panasonic