A major retailer has a major third-tier brand 60" LCD for $800 right now. This is far sooner than I would've imagine such a thing would be available anywhere. It's normally a $1000 item and might be again by the time you read this, but the point is that it's happened.
Given this, it seems certain that we'll eventually routinely see 60" TVs at the $1000 mark, with premium sets unable to command meaningfully north of $2000. If company X can make money at $1000 today, a primary panel manufacturer will be able to make more money than they do at that price already and much more a year from now.
It seems likely, then, that even today's remarkable price for Sharp's 70" of $3000 will eventually seem somewhat high and that $2000 will be realistic down the road with a premium model at $3000 or so.
The reality of the TV business, however, is that no one is making money in it and continued cutthroat pricing is not going to help matters there. Combine that with tepid demand overall for TVs (consumers have largely upgraded to HD and few want 3D) and the future is very uncertain. But it's pretty likely cheaper.
Given this, it seems certain that we'll eventually routinely see 60" TVs at the $1000 mark, with premium sets unable to command meaningfully north of $2000. If company X can make money at $1000 today, a primary panel manufacturer will be able to make more money than they do at that price already and much more a year from now.
It seems likely, then, that even today's remarkable price for Sharp's 70" of $3000 will eventually seem somewhat high and that $2000 will be realistic down the road with a premium model at $3000 or so.
The reality of the TV business, however, is that no one is making money in it and continued cutthroat pricing is not going to help matters there. Combine that with tepid demand overall for TVs (consumers have largely upgraded to HD and few want 3D) and the future is very uncertain. But it's pretty likely cheaper.