It appears that Panasonic is abandoning plasma panel production for good. According to Japan's Nikkei business outlet—and reported by Engadget—the company will not produce any more plasma televisions after the end of the company's current fiscal year, which ends in March 2014.
Panasonic's VT60 plasma was very highly rated, but there will be no sequel
About six months ago, Panasonic denied it was exiting the plasma business . The official word from the company was that plasma production would continue, even if R&D on new panels would not. The company's 2013 plasma models were among the all-time best-reviewed HDTVs, finally achieving (or beating) the image quality benchmark set by Pioneer's defunct Kuro line.
Quote:
"Sales will then continue until inventory runs out. The paper states that Panasonic has suffered losses exceeding 750 billion yen through fiscal 2012 thanks to the waning product line and is in talks to transfer tenancy rights or sell off its remaining plasma factory." source: Engadget
It looks like the curse of the Kuro has struck again; when a plasma panel's image quality gets too close to perfect, the whole line gets cancelled—and now the future truly belongs to LCD and OLED. I am curious how long Samsung and LG will continue building and selling plasma HDTVS, considering this development.
Update: Reuters has an article that is now cited by numerous national publications as a primary source for this news.
Quote:
"The move also signals the demise in Japan of a technology in which TV makers once invested heavily but has now been overtaken by advances in the liquid crystal display (LCD) business. Plasma display TVs accounted for less than 6 percent of global shipments in 2012, compared with 87 percent for LCD TVs" source: Reuters
^ a cinema screen is a tad bigger, the curved screens now are a gimmick and distorted slightly. Don't think for a second that it's not all about marketing. They're curved like a cinema screen so they must be better. Have a good night.
Edit;
I'm all for OLED and 4K but I want a 60" panel soon. So it's either pay a ridiculous price for a technology (LED/LCD) I don't want or pay even more for OLED, or buy a Panny plasma now or wait a few years.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pittsoccer33 /t/1494093/panasonic-to-end-plasma-panel-production-by-april-2014/30#post_23819404
I know at various times the manufacturers give the stores a "rebate" on the margin discount that occurred during a promotion. Or if you bought this model tv we gave you this model bluray player and 3D glasses for free. That stuff was coordinated with the manufacturers. And like I said, I've been paid spiffs by the manufacturers ranging from $10-$125 to sell certain models on top of the commission the store paid.
Like I said, I don't know how it all shook out at the high level and how much those types of promotional tactics cost them versus cost the retailers.
they sell very well to enthusiasts on a forum like this, but not to the general public. In the 46" and larger sizes I probably sold Samsung LEDs 3:1 against all other makes and models combined.
The public by and large is extremely skeptical of plasma tvs - they don't last very long, they burn in, they're on their way out, they have bad picture quality, you can't see them during the day, their coworker/neighbor/cousin/fairy godmother said they're no good and they need an LED - the list went on.
Someone buying on the low end has an uncanny ability to convince themselves that a garbage no name 1080p LED looks better than a 720p Sanyo/Panasonic plasma.
^^ the general public believes whatever the marketing tells them. that is the only reason they buy more LED's. if the plasmas sell to enthusiasts, and they are CHEAPER, there's no reason they couldn't be sold to the general public too. I mean how hard of a sale could it be? it's a cheaper tv that produces a better picture. ppl are skeptical of plasmas because they haven't seen one advertised in 10yrs...
I can only speak for myself, but because I remember this happening once already (with CRT's)
the kill off the current technology way too soon, and leave a multi year gap where the new technology hasn't matured enough to actually surpass the old in many important factors. the new tech will also be sold at several times the cost of the old, meaning even when they do finally develop a display that can match the old one, it's 3-4x as expensive. realistically, I don't expect to be able to buy a 65" OLED that can deliver better overall performance for under 3grand for at least 5 if not 10yrs...
I know when my crt slowly started going, I was unable to find a tv on the market short of the kuro that could even come close to it for blacks and contrast. 2yrs prior I could have bought an even better crt for about 1500. I don't think it's a good thing to give up fantastic 1500 dollar TV's for really good 6000 TV's.
this time around, I was prepared. I bought the best tv I could get my hands on this year. i'm preparing to not buy another for the rest of this decade... and even then, i'll probably abandon flat screens altogether for critical viewing. LED/laser projectors will be my replacement to flat screens. i should clarify, i've already abandoned flat screens for 'critical' viewing, but i'll soon abandone them for casual viewing as well.
Went into my local BB tonight and the local Panasonic rep happened to be there. I was negotiating a price for the ZT60 and talk naturally turned to Panasonic and their plasma displays. It turns out, according to the rep, Panasonic will halt plasma R&D in 2014. In other words, they will no longer advance plasma technology. Though, he made it clear Panasonic will continue to sell plasma displays through 2014 and beyond.
Quote:
Originally Posted by roncruiser /t/1494093/panasonic-to-end-plasma-panel-production-by-april-2014/60_10#post_23821030
Went into my local BB tonight and the local Panasonic rep happened to be there. I was negotiating a price for the ZT60 and talk naturally turned to Panasonic and their plasma displays. It turns out, according to the rep, Panasonic will halt plasma R&D in 2014. In other words, they will no longer advance plasma technology. Though, he made it clear Panasonic will continue to sell plasma displays through 2014 and beyond.
Quote:
Originally Posted by roncruiser /t/1494093/panasonic-to-end-plasma-panel-production-by-april-2014/60#post_23821030
Went into my local BB tonight and the local Panasonic rep happened to be there. I was negotiating a price for the ZT60 and talk naturally turned to Panasonic and their plasma displays. It turns out, according to the rep, Panasonic will halt plasma R&D in 2014. In other words, they will no longer advance plasma technology. Though, he made it clear Panasonic will continue to sell plasma displays through 2014 and beyond.
Check it out - Local Electronic Stores now selling Baby Items, Furniture, Mattresses, Health Food Products etc - $750 profit selling a $1500 Mattress Set, versus $100 Profit selling a $1500 TV!
Maybe the Go Green ads have the world leaning towards LCD/LEDS?
Quote:
Originally Posted by pittsoccer33 /t/1494093/panasonic-to-end-plasma-panel-production-by-april-2014/30#post_23819404
I know at various times the manufacturers give the stores a "rebate" on the margin discount that occurred during a promotion. Or if you bought this model tv we gave you this model bluray player and 3D glasses for free. That stuff was coordinated with the manufacturers. And like I said, I've been paid spiffs by the manufacturers ranging from $10-$125 to sell certain models on top of the commission the store paid.
Like I said, I don't know how it all shook out at the high level and how much those types of promotional tactics cost them versus cost the retailers.
they sell very well to enthusiasts on a forum like this, but not to the general public. In the 46" and larger sizes I probably sold Samsung LEDs 3:1 against all other makes and models combined.
The public by and large is extremely skeptical of plasma tvs - they don't last very long, they burn in, they're on their way out, they have bad picture quality, you can't see them during the day, their coworker/neighbor/cousin/fairy godmother said they're no good and they need an LED - the list went on.
Someone buying on the low end has an uncanny ability to convince themselves that a garbage no name 1080p LED looks better than a 720p Sanyo/Panasonic plasma.
This is seriously the only non-garbage post in this thread
Pittsoccer nailed it. It just comes down to sales and profits and your typical consumer being stupid and uninformed
From the article
Quote:
In its last financial year, Panasonic's plasma screen division made a loss of 754bn yen (£4.85bn), following a 772bn yen loss the previous year.
This is despite the fact that its plasma TVs are critically acclaimed, with the European Imaging Sound Association voting Panasonic's Viera TX-P60ZT65 European home cinema TV of the year 2013-2014.
2) LCD's are brighter = people think brighter is better
3) Plasmas are thicker then LCD = less sexy
4) Plasma use more electricity = less sexy
5) People still think plasmas burn in/don't last
I could go on, but the fact remains that most people simply don't understand why Plasma's are currently better when all they see is a thick, heavy, blurry, dim TV when they go into the store. Go into any Electronics blog (Engadget) and you'll read people stating "Plasma's are garbage".
I am a huge fan of plasma TVs and presently have a 65" VT50.
If it comes to pass that Panasonic will step out of the plasma venue, I may end up buying another Panasonic Plasma and hold on to it so I can make sure I get a few more years of plasma goodness.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jontyrees /t/1494093/panasonic-to-end-plasma-panel-production-by-april-2014#post_23818050
Looking on the bright side, there will likely be some hellacious deals available over the next couple of years. On the down side, I just bought one, before the really deep discounting happens! I'm good with it though - just got a 65" Panasonic, (to add to my 42" and 50" Panasonics), so I'm set for the next several years. Who knows what awesome TVs will be available by then?
Will there be deals....or....will scarcity of a discontinuedproduct drive prices up before the sets are no longer available fo purchase??? When wil be the best time to buy?
Quote:
Originally Posted by igreg /t/1494093/panasonic-to-end-plasma-panel-production-by-april-2014/60#post_23821438
Will there be deals....or....will scarcity of a discontinuedproduct drive prices up before the sets are no longer available fo purchase??? When wil be the best time to buy?
Quote:
Originally Posted by roncruiser /t/1494093/panasonic-to-end-plasma-panel-production-by-april-2014/60#post_23821030
Went into my local BB tonight and the local Panasonic rep happened to be there. I was negotiating a price for the ZT60 and talk naturally turned to Panasonic and their plasma displays. It turns out, according to the rep, Panasonic will halt plasma R&D in 2014. In other words, they will no longer advance plasma technology. Though, he made it clear Panasonic will continue to sell plasma displays through 2014 and beyond.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vinnie97 /t/1494093/panasonic-to-end-plasma-panel-production-by-april-2014/30#post_23818786
I'm not sure how huge that opportunity is. OLED will be a money-losing division, too. I think you're overestimating market size of those wanting to pay
A flat, 60", 4K OLED for $5k will be the price point where OLED takes off...
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