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Pioneer to Leave TV Market Completely, Report Says
Japan's Nikkei says Kuro maker will exit the TV business due to the economy.
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February 09, 2009 | by Jason Unger

Pioneer, manufacturer of the highly-rated Kuro plasma displays, plans to exit the TV market, according to a report in Japan’s Nikkei newspaper (via PC World).

The global economy appears to be one of the reasons for the company’s decision, according to the report.

The company, recently ranked fourth among plasma makers in market share, announced it would stop manufacturing panels in-house in March 2007 and add LCDs to its North American lineup this year.

According to the report, Pioneer would also spin off its DVD operations into a new joint venture with Sharp.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Pioneer is “considering all options in a review of its businesses, including a possible withdrawal from the company’s unprofitable flat-panel television-set operation.”

Pioneer had partnered with Sharp for its LCD production and Panasonic for its plasma panels.

The company’s fiscal Q3 results are expected to be announced on February 12.



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Comments (3) Most recent displayed first.
Posted by Brian  on  02/11/09  at  07:54 PM

Will Pioneer be honoring all of their remaining warranties

Posted by Tom  on  02/10/09  at  09:23 AM

Pioneer is leaving the tv marker all together. No panasonic plasmas rebadged with Pioneer tech.

Get your kuro before they go extinct!

Posted by Paul  on  02/09/09  at  03:10 PM

Did Pioneer comment as to whether or not they would licence their technology to other companies?  Pioneer leaving the market wouldn’t be as big a deal if this was the case. 

If they aren’t however, it will suck that plasma technology will take a step or two backwards until the other manufacturer’s catch up to where Pioneer was.



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