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The DMR-BW500 offers the highest recording quality available with Full High Definition 1080p recording onto the built in 500GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or Blu-ray Disc. It can record up to 72 hours of 1080p content onto the HDD or 6 hours 40 min (1080p) on a 50GB double layer Blu-ray Disc. In addition to video, it can record 5.1-channel Dolby Digital surround sound broadcasts without deterioration in sound quality or surround effects.

Panasonic Australia's Director for Consumer Electronics Group, Paul Reid said, "Panasonic has led the way in home entertainment products and continues to bring innovation to the market with Australia's first Blu-ray Recorder for the living room. This product is a significant breakthrough for Blu-ray and sets the standard in Full High Definition recording. With a twin High Definition Tuner and 500 GB Hard Disk Drive it is the ideal one-box solution for any home."

The Blu-ray Disc Recorder can also play Blu-ray movies in studio-master quality at a frame rate of 24 frames per second and offers twin DVB-T High Definition (HD) tuner and support for 7-day Electronic Program Guide. Panasonic's intelligent VIERA Link takes this a step further by offering single-remote control of Panasonic AV devices via HDMI and streamlining operation with features such as Pause Live TV, Direct TV Record and Auto Preset Download.

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