Panasonic Corp of North America, Matsushita’s principal U.S. subsidiary, is previewing its new flagship PZ850 series at CES. It’s the manufacturer’s first Internet Protocol-enabled HD plasma set.

IP-enabled sets include a technology that provides access to online content derived directly from the TV set without the need of a PC. The PZ850 series also features a “Pro Setting Menu” that allows users to access professional calibration software at their convenience.

The IP-enabled plasma units include a contrast ratio of 30,000:1, digital cinema color re-mastering; 24p native reproduction; PC input, a guaranteed 100,000 hours to half-brightness, four HDMI connections, and an SD memory card slot.

The units also employ Game Mode, software developed by Panasonic and designed to minimize lag-time when displaying game images on the plasma screen.

Panasonic’s Viera-brand 1080p PZ850 series is being demonstrated in four models at CES: 46 inches (TH-46PZ850), 50 inches (TH-50PZ850), 58 inches (TH-58PZ850) and the 65-inch model (TH-65PZ850).