According to Panasonic, its upcoming DMR-E100H DVD-Digital Video recorder will feature a hard-drive capacity of 120GB, compared with a maximum of 80GB in earlier DVD-DVR hybrids. The device, set for release in August at a price of about $1,200 , allows people to record live television shows to either the hard drive or to a DVD-RAM or DVD-R disc. Panasonic was among the first consumer-electronics makers to develop a combination DVD and DVR recorder. Its early move allowed it to become the leading seller of DVD recorders in the consumer-electronics market.

Key competitors in that niche include Philips and Pioneer. But unlike its rivals, Panasonic is backing older formats, DVD-RAM/-R. The others are pushing the DVD-RW/-R formats.

Worldwide shipments of DVD recorders reached 1.5 million in 2002 and should increase to more than 11 million in 2005, according to research firm In-Stat/MDR. Shipments are expected to rise significantly as manufacturers begin to add DVR features to their DVD-recording products.