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SAN DIEGO, Ca. –July 8, 2005 - After falling behind Sony in retail plasma TV product placements in May 2005, Panasonic reemerged as the market leader in June with a commanding 22.7% shelf share in the U.S. retail marketplace, according to third-party market and product analysis group, Current Analysis.

New retail SKUs for Panasonic resulted in an increase to 22 product placements in June (compared to 16 in May). Sony added only two new placements during the period, bringing its total to 21 plasma TV SKUs in retail stores. Current Analysis Digital TV Shelf Share standings are based on exclusive in-store data collection at 10 of the nation's top retail chains.

Samsung also surged ahead of Sony in plasma TV placements in June, moving up to second place with a shelf share of 17.3% (up from 14.6% in May); this number approaches the company's previous 12-month high of 17.6% of retail plasma shelf share, which was set last July. Sony fell to a 15.7% shelf share in June, down from 17% in May.