RSSPioneer to halt production of plasma screens
By Tim Conneally | Published March 4, 2008, 6:22 PM
Japanese consumer electronics maker Pioneer, makers of what many consider to be the best plasma panels on the market, is reported to be ceasing production of its own plasma screens, according to Nikkei.
Pioneer is known for producing what many consider to be the best plasma panels on the market. The Japanese business news service Nikkei reported today that as early as this year, Pioneer's Kagoshima production facility could close, and its Yamanashi and Shizuoka plants will shift focus to assembly.
It appears Pioneer is stopping production because it can actually save money by just buying its plasma screens from another company. Pioneer is reportedly working on such a deal with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co, the company from which Pioneer recently said it would buy its 42-inch and under plasmas.
Pioneer recently dropped its projected 2008 plasma sales by almost 40% to 480,000 TVs. Matsushita projected 5 million for the same period.
Makes sense this statement from Pioneer..with screens getting bigger it makes sense to drop the plasma TV because of it's price to build compared to LCD screens at larger screen sizes
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I've always thought Plasma was plagued by burn-in issues. Didn't the History channel or some-such get sued by a Plasma owner because their silly logo (something damn near every station does now) burned into the screen and thus appeared on *every* channel.
I must admit, though, watching Star-trek on the "History" channel would have been worth it....
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|"I've always thought Plasma was plagued by burn-in issue"
I think "plagued" is very exaggerated...I think some of the first plasma screen had burn in issues. I have last years model Pioneer plasma and I have no burn in issues. This is with my wife pausing tivo and leaving it paused for hours even though I tell her to cut that out, and with my always playing video games on it...still doesn't have any burn in....and the pic is amazing. :)
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|Ahh. Good.
It's an area I'm not incredibly familiar with. Just haven't felt the need to go flat-panel yet.
*shrug*
Maybe when one of our current one's die.
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|So... mama wears the pants!!!!
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|If she wore the pants I'd still be watching a 27" tv :)
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|I'm waiting for OLED.
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|Will the quality suffer now like it does whenever other companies do similar things? Are they now just banking on their name because they had built it up beforehand?
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|I wonder that too. The Kuro has an amazing picture...hopefully they can keep the quality the same while having someone else produce their screens...
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|Their PTK plant in the UK, West Yorkshire, is building Plasma screen exclusively. All of the screens are shipped in and they just make the boards and assemble. I wonder if this means a s*** from the UK, if it does they they have not told them yet.
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|If it happens it will be a real shame! I've been eying the Pioneer KURO 5010HD since its release in October... looks like I will get it now as its become a little more affordable...size is the only question.. its probably too big! I really hope their technology lives in a new product though.. the full HD KUROs are just awesome screens.
*edit* The link in the article is pointing to the PDP-5080HD.... this is an inferior model especially when comparing side by side with the PDP-5010HD.
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|"its probably too big!"
It can never be TOO big. :) I have a pioneer 60 inch plasma and my wife thought it would be way too big...but it's awesome. Just don't sit 5 feet away from it. :)
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|Just don't sit 5 feet away from it. :)
The goggles...they do nothing!
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|A definite mixed bag announcement.
We see a reduction in competition and the increase in economies of scale.
One wonders to what degree Pioneer may transfer their technological advantages to the subsequent production process from whom they source.
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|"Pioneer is reportedly working on such a deal with Matsus***a Electric Industrial Co, the company from which Pioneer recently said it would buy its 42-inch and under plasmas."
What about plasmas larger than 42-inches?
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|Phew ... I just bought my Full HD Pioneer 50". It's sensational. A pity they have to stop production for sure!
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|Nice! Do you have PS3 or XBOX connected? Any good?
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|Soon you'll get the same screens no matter which brand you buy. You'll just be paying a premium for names like Pioneer.
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|Damn. That's a loss for consumers. We need more companies competing to make the best screens, not everyone reselling plasmas and LCDs from a couple manufacturers.
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|Clearly the very best TVs on a market by a wide margin.
Will never buy an LCD.
Love my Pioneers and will stick with them as long as they are available.
Bad decision, but understandable if for financial reasons only
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