According to industry sources and confirmed by a Nikkei News report (Link) Pioneer Corp. is ending production of its highly rated plasma HDTVs and will be exiting the TV business. Pioneer has been losing money on its HDTV plasma operation for quite some time.
Last year Pioneer announced the closing of its plasma panel factory and a plan to outsource its panels to Panasonic, while stating its intention to continue to sell Pioneer branded HDTVs with design and assembly at its own facilities.
This week, due to the current economic climate, Panasonic announced a six-month delay in the opening of its latest and largest plasma panel factory to early 2010. This delay may have been a factor in Pioneer’s decision to abandon TV production.
According to Nikkei, Pioneer also plans to shift its DVD player operations to a new joint venture with Sharp Corp.
Pioneer Electronics USA’s Comments:
“As a matter of policy, we cannot comment on rumors or speculation. As you know, we have publicly announced that we are actively evaluating our business. We started announcing changes in March, 2008 to increase efficiencies of our business operations. We are still in that process but do not have any further announcements at this time.”
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skinnygooch
Posted on 7th February, 2009
I have been waiting to buy and Elite monitor. What do I do now? What’s the next best model that can even match the Kuros and Elite?
Owen
Posted on 8th February, 2009
If this is true, what is going to replace the Kuro range, and that will also mean no OLED TV panels either.
That’s going to leave a huge hole in the market of top end consumer TV Panels.
Sad news.
[...] Fuente: HD Guru [...]
[...] Adiós y buen viaje Pioneer, porque se ha lanzado la bomba: Pioneer sale del mercado de las TV, tanto esfuerzo en las Kuro para nada esto. Según informa Nikkei News, la empresa puede dejar de fabricar todo tipo de pantallas, saliendo por completo del negocio de las pantalla de alta definición. [...]
[...] Adiós y buen viaje Pioneer, porque se ha lanzado la bomba: Pioneer sale del mercado de las TV, tanto esfuerzo en las Kuro para nada esto. Según informa Nikkei News, la empresa puede dejar de fabricar todo tipo de pantallas, saliendo por completo del negocio de las pantalla de alta definición. [...]
[...] Source Pioneer To Exit The TV Business [...]
[...] Several reports from Japan and elsewhere say that Pioneer will cease production of high definition televisions. Nikkei News reportedly got confirmation that the high quality but money-losing line of HDTVs will be no more. Pioneer already closed its plasma panel factory last year, opting to outsource the job to Panasonic, but the company said it would continue to design and manufacture Pioneer-branded HDTVs. If the news of closing down is true, chalk it up to the bad economy, which caused Panasonic to delay the opening of a new plasma panel factory by six months. Pioneer USA is keeping mum on the reports, saying it doesn’t comment on “rumors and speculation.” The company already announced that it was “actively evaluating” the business, and that’s still happening now, Pioneer maintains. [HDGuru via CrunchGear] Posted In: Video [...]
[...] via HDGuru var addthis_pub = ‘admin’; var addthis_language = ‘en’;var addthis_options = ‘email, favorites, digg, delicious, myspace, google, facebook, reddit, live, more’; Feb.09, 2009 in Televisions [...]
etype2
Posted on 12th February, 2009
Another Plasma provider bites the dust.
Yesterday Vizio announced Plans to exit the Plasma market. That leaves just 3 major makers left, Panasonic, Samsung and LG.
Two years ago, I wrote in this site the exodus of Plasma makers and the ultimate death of Plasma television. We are one step closer today.
http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/another-manufacturer-drops-plasma/
CZAR AUDIO
Posted on 13th February, 2009
It’s unfortunate that it has come to this, but it was time for this “GOLIATH” to fall. I am a Pioneer Elite dealer in southern California and have observed Pioneers cocky attitude for some time. No change No sale. This company has not adapted well to current economy and the executives at Pioneer are fat dumb and happy in Long Beach CA. OOPS! I didn’t just say that, but this may be the problem. The real victims here are the working class trying to pay bills and survive. Pioneer will be missed but let’s face it folks. It’s over.
A real dealer in SO CAL.
TV
Posted on 18th February, 2009
I am really disappointed to hear about this. I love the Pioneer plasma TVs and I have just bought one.
Kelly
Posted on 4th March, 2009
Closing or not closing, go grab one ASAP otherwise you will regret for not owning the best TV in the industry.
[...] Our favorite plasma maker and TV tech innovator is exiting the TV business for good, says HD Guru. [...]
[...] Our favorite plasma maker and TV tech innovator is exiting the TV business for good, says HD Guru. [...]
GearModa
Posted on 30th April, 2009
This is too bad, I have been a big fan of pioneer plasmas.
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