Pioneer Disbanding TV Business

Author Hugo Jobling
Published 12th Feb 2009
Pioneer Disbanding TV Business
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It's a sad day for the TV industry. Sad, because those rumours of Pioneer ceasing TV production weren't rumours after all but, rather, a grim foreshadowing of the official announcement.


Pioneer aims to refocus its business on "car electronics, navigation and audio A/V equipment." Sadly the tautology of 'audio AV' isn't the worst part of that statement. By March 2010 Pioneer will have pulled out of the flat screen market and will no longer offer LCD or Plasma TVs.

Along with the end of Kuro production, some 10,000 Pioneer employees (6,000 full-time, 4,000 temporary) will find their jobs disappearing over the next year. Pioneer's annual loss forecast loos bleaker too, at around ¥130 billion (~£1 billion)

The future isn't entirely bleak, luckily. Lest we forget there is an agreement between Pioneer and Panasonic to see the latter party manufacture plasma TVs using the former's technology. While we probably won't see Kuro quality Panasonic displays immediately, the partnership should bear some fruits.

Nonetheless, in a little over a year we'll all be observing a minute's silence to morn the passing of the finest TVs money can could buy.

Link:
Pioneer.

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Latest 4 of 13 Comments

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comment roadie said on 13th February 2009

I don't think it was planned. I believe Pioneer made every effort to make it work by partnering with Sharp and Panasonic and releasing LCD products, but the strength of the Y... more

comment Ohmz said on 13th February 2009

So what implications does this have for plasma as a technology? It looks like Panasonic is left with plasmas' future in its hands.

comment Matthew Bunton said on 15th February 2009

So very sad. Says a lot about the industry when the premier plasma producer pulls out.

I bet the TR team are seriously gutted as I know they appreciated the Kuro as ... more

comment Siobhan Redmond said on 18th February 2009

Whilst Pioneer ending production of the KURO range might, on the face of it be bad news for consumers who desire the "best of the best" it should still be remembered that... more

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