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Pioneer outlines KURO plasma exit, insinuates that you should buy one now

by Darren Murph posted Mar 24th 2009 at 3:02PM


Okay, so maybe that harshly translated version of Pioneer's recent KURO-related press release doesn't actually encourage prospective buyers to snag a unit while they still can, but it may as well have. Following up on the outfit's curious decision to abandon a product line that was universally adored, Pioneer has decided that just four of its PDPs will stay in production until April 11th. After 3,000 or so of the KRP-500A, KRP-500M, KRP-600A and KRP-600M units have been produced, the lines will be shut down and we'll all be invited to what will undoubtedly be a tear-filled memorial service. The company has also made clear that warranty service will still be provided for an undisclosed amount of time (at least in Japan), but there has yet to be a statement made specifically regarding the North American market.

[Via Slashgear]

Pioneer exec touches on exit from plasma business

by Darren Murph posted Feb 16th 2009 at 10:21AM


Yeah, it seems like hopping off of the plasma bandwagon is the thing to be doing right now, but Pioneer's exit is startling in more than a few ways. For starters, the company has been pushing its KURO line as the PDP set to get for years, and by and large, it actually has been the best around. It's one thing to leave a market you aren't winning -- it's another entirely to drop off while you're on top. Bruce Schepers, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing at Pioneer Canada, sat down to speak on the departure with Marketnews. Granted, most of his conversation centered around that fact that no other parts of the company's businesses would be shrinking or vanishing, though he did mention that Pioneer would have ninth generation product "up until summer." He also affirmed that support wouldn't be waning for its heralded receivers and Blu-ray players, and that Sharp was a likely candidate for an optical-based joint venture. For the whole interview, give the read link a look.

Sony calls it quits on US TV production

by Steven Kim posted Dec 15th 2008 at 5:28PM

Sony Westmoreland, PA plant
Honestly, it's surprising to us that Sony still had any TV manufacturing was still in the U.S., but sadly, the company will be turning the lights out on its last U.S.-based plant early next year. The Westmoreland, PA plant is set to cease TV production in February 2009 and finally close in March 2010 when TV and Blu-ray disc repair are relocated as well. Reliability be damned, the plant just couldn't avoid the axe this time around -- it had already shifted from RPTVs to LCD TVs since opening in 1990 -- but this last round of "5 or 6" worldwide plant closings for Sony will spell curtains for the Pittsburgh Technology Center. Our hearts go out to the 560 folks who will lose their jobs.

[Image courtesy Westmoreland County, PA]

HP exiting LCD TV biz, killing MediaSmart HDTV line?

by Darren Murph posted Oct 28th 2008 at 12:38PM


Chalk this one up as rampant speculation for now, but word on the street has it that HP may be fixing to axe its LCD TV business and kill the MediaSmart HDTV while it's at it. In taking a step back, it's easy to see how logical this move seems -- HP has never been a giant in the LCD HDTV arena, and its MediaSmart line serves an even smaller niche. Couple those facts with plummeting LCD prices and diminishing margins, and you've got yourself a pretty strong case to hit the eject button. If all of this pans out, it'll surely hurt Microsoft's chances of getting even more TV manufacturers to sell sets with Media Center Extenders built in, but at least those still on the hunt for a MediaSmart HDTV on the cheap would have an opportunity to find just that.

[Via ElectronicHouse]

Audiovox exits the LCD TV business that no one knew it was in

by Darren Murph posted Oct 17th 2008 at 12:29PM


Okay, so we're kidding. Sort of. Believe it or not, Audiovox actually was a very minor player in the LCD flat-panel industry, but no more. In an effort to counter "what is shaping up to be the worst economy in decades," CEO Patrick Lavelle decided to pull the plug on the LCD business and show 8% of his employees the way out for the final time. It's all good for the company though, because every worked-to-the-bone parent in America will be snapping up one of its Homebase Digital Message Centers.

Hitachi dials back plasma production, looks to buy from Panasonic

by Steven Kim posted Sep 21st 2008 at 10:09AM

Hitachi UltraThin plasma
Hitachi is the latest manufacturer looking towards the door as the party at plasma's house is winding down, and the cost cutting isn't surprising in light of the company's steep losses on plasma TVs. Just to spare plasma's feelings, though, it has agreed to buy some panels from Panasonic (which looks to be last man standing at the dwindling party). It's hard to see the move as anything but inevitable -- as LCDs take over and OLEDs ramp up, Hitachi's 7.5-percent stake in the plasma market isn't the issue, it's the shrinking overall plasma market that's the problem (matched only by the thinning physical profiles). UltraThin, 1.5-inch thick plasmas or no, we wouldn't be surprised to see a complete exit from the plasma market in the foreseeable future.

Philips looking to exit plasma biz in 2009

by Steven Kim posted May 19th 2008 at 5:44PM

Philips may exit plasma biz in 2009
Recent activity is making 2009 look like the year when manufacturers will be leaving the plasma party en masse, for sure. Even if the number of brands on the shelves isn't greatly diminished, the number of independent manufacturers will be. Since Philips has continued to reduce its stake in the LCD production venture with LG and handed over North American production to Funai, it'd be no great surprise to see it exit the plasma biz. Just like every party, sometimes the really crazy stuff happens in the wee hours, after the initial exodus; we'll see next year if plasma goes out strong or sad.

[Via TGDaily]




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