Pioneer to Exit Flat Panel Market

[admin]

A flurry of activity has surrounded Pioneer this week, particularly centered around its flat panel display business. We caught a lot of heat with our article last year which predicted the eventual end of plasma display production for Pioneer. As it turns out, the company may be leaving flat panel production entirely, instead going the route of merely branding displays and possibly "guiding" technology. Rumors that Pioneer and their highly-rated Kuro plasma displays may soon exit the TV market are brought to you courtesy of a report in Japan's Nikkei newspaper.

Discuss "Pioneer to Exit Flat Panel Market" here. Read the article.

 

[just-some-guy]

branding displays. does that mean they will just slap their name on someone elses products ?

 

[Adam]

branding displays. does that mean they will just slap their name on someone elses products ?

I believe that is exactly what that means.

 

[mvp2005fan]

This is really disappointing news, but perhaps predictable with the current global economic challenges.

I'd better snap up a Kuro while I still can!

 

[Shock]

I believe that is exactly what that means.

Yep, same thing Apple does on all of their displays.....and Dell.....

 

[Wannabubble]

First Fujitsu and now Pioneer. When will the madness end!

 

[Midcow2]

AAAAARRRG this is scary

I am getting ready to pull the trigger on a PRO-151FD. Should I reaim my gun ?

Thanks for your advice,

MidCow2

 

[tn001d]

Now i have to get a pioneer kuro before they go extinct. Unfortunately i dont know where i will put. Perhaps in storage

 

[Tom Andry]

Usually, when a company like Pioneer rebrands, they take the glass and maybe the case and add their own electronics and/or processing. It is entirely possible that the Pio version will be superior over the Sharp/Panasonic. That being said, there are plenty of instances of a straight swap with little/no performance change. The only way to know is to test them.

 

[tn001d]

Pioneer is not going to be rebabdging... they will completely exit the TV business and focus only on car electronics.

 

[Midcow2]

Pioneer only focussing on car electronics ??

Pioneer is not going to be rebabdging... they will completely exit the TV business and focus only on car electronics.

Yeah I remember when railroads were also Myoptic!

 

[bandphan]

Yeah I remember when railroads were also Myoptic!

Dont believe the rumors untill the pr. BTW unless you want a 950 series sammy or the px pannys get the damm kuro

 

[bandphan]

Pioneer is not going to be rebabdging... they will completely exit the TV business and focus only on car electronics.

Ok who is your source for this blatent mis information? So your saying that their av side is dead?

 

[mperfct]

ja, all I got was that they are exiting flat screens and dvd players, and entering a partnership with sharp for new DVD players. I don't know if that entails blu-ray players or not, and certainly doesn't seem to incorporate their receivers.

I'll be interested to see if the Elite line continues throughout this restructuring, although we Americans are quite attached to nameplates and statuses (Lexus/Acura/Infiniti anyone?)

 

[Wayde Robson]

Maybe midcow is making a bold prediction... you heard from him first!

 

[jcilforever]

What they are going to do is have Panasonic's new facilty in Asia make the Plasmas and then have them shipped to their plant for final assembly. Don't panic they will still put their own electronic controls in it.

 

[AdrianMills]

Unfortunately this is official now. Pioneer will exit the TV business by March 2010.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/forum-news-notices/935045-kuro-dead-sad-day-av-fans.html

Bugger.

 

[Audioholics]

I'm so glad you all acknowledge it's finally official, lol. Maybe I should post the news over at AV Forums next time!

 

[AdrianMills]

I'm so glad you all acknowledge it's finally official, lol. Maybe I should post the news over at AV Forums next time!

I guess there was always hope that they would out source the entire production of Kuro technology to Panny or LG so that the sets could still be made. I'm still hoping that they will license their tech to someone so that we'll still be able to buy TVs that are this good in the near future. I was so hoping to get my hands on a "concept" Kuro next year. Now I'm a little torn - not sure whether to go ahead with the JVC projector purchase I'd planned or get a 60" 9G Pio instead while they are still available.

Oh and btw, it really wasn't official that they were leaving the TV business until today.

 

[jcilforever]

Maybe they sold the technology to Panasonic and we will see this in Panasonics future models.