Report: Pioneer to exit TV business

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http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10158724-92.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=News-BusinessTech

Updated at 2:35 p.m. PST with comment from Pioneer.
Pioneer will no longer manufacture televisions and plans to spin off its DVD player business into a joint venture with Sharp, according to a report in Japan's Nikkei newspaper.
The company is reportedly exiting the TV business rather than continue to incur losses in that division. This latest report comes a few months after Pioneer announced it anticipated huge losses at the end of its fiscal year in March and plans to lay off 2,000 workers.
Pioneer had built itself into a widely respected maker of plasma televisions, but last March said it would not make the plasma panels anymore because of skyrocketing costs and mounting losses in its TV division. It tapped Panasonic to provide the panels instead, but that deal appears now short-lived. Another clue this was coming: Pioneer showed no specific models of TVs at CES last month.
Pioneer is not alone among TV makers losing money. Everyone from Panasonic to Samsung to Sony is facing layoffs and large quarterly losses.

Update: Pioneer said it won't comment on the rumor, but released this statement: "We have publicly announced that we are actively evaluating our business. We started announcing changes in March 2008 to increase efficiencies of our business operations. We are still in that process but do not have any further announcements at this time."

The Ritz

Bad news this, and I understand from industry contacts that we can be prepared to see further annoncements like this from other manufacturers. somewhat inevitable given the global downturn

Pioneer's announcement is an awful pity for HE enthusiasts, their KURO plasma screens really are the top of the tree as far as picture quality is concerned.

The job-losses are in a different league, of course, bringing personal misery to lots of households, just as it is here, given the scale of the hit on our own economy.


Tough times.


Ritz.


Ritz.

ongarite

Disappointing news but not unexpected and Pioneer themselves have to take half the blame.
IMO, the time and market for niche TVs are over.

Plasma and LCD TVs are now consumable items instead of luxuries and with that comes a price expectation and smaller margins with profit coming from volume and total sales. The consumer has shown that they were unwilling to pay up to 50% price premium for a (admittedly fantastic) HDTV leaving Pioneer and Fujitsu to pulled out of the TV market.

big_moe

this is terrible news... while Pioneer have said that nothing has been confirmed yet its still crap that something like this is even suggested... Im gonna have to get my skates on and grab me a KRP-500 quick!

M00lers

Bad news indeed, grab yourself a Kuro while you can. I'm glad I got my KRP when I did.
No other manufacturer comes close to the picture quality of the Kuro screens.

cheapskate

Hey Guys

Hi Moolers, I see you have a KRP from your post, could you tell me where you got yours or the best place to get one from, are the UK Kuro and Irish Kuro (KRP-500A) the same unit?
I've seen them on several UK sites but I think I'd prefer buy in Ireland (North or South)

Thanks,

CS

big_moe

§hite.

pioneer have now officially announced. no more TVs

they're closing the plant in the uk this month

http://pioneer.jp//press-e/2009/pdf/release_3q09e_02.pdf

Zonda999

Sad news for sure. It does say March 2010 though so presumably one would be able to get their hands on a 5090 or a KRP for another year yet??

big_moe

yeah on avforums they have an interview with the UK main guy from Pioneer and he says end of the year, or until stocks last. the factory in UK (where LX & KRP are made) is closing down more or less immediately.

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

jmal

Sad news!

Wondering if it is a good idea to purchase a panel from a company which is going under. What about the warranty?

Jev/N

jmal wrote: »

Sad news!

Wondering if it is a good idea to purchase a panel from a company which is going under. What about the warranty?

The company itself isn't going under, they still make plenty of other products so they'd honour the warranty but the issue would be whether they'd have a replacement I suppose

cheapskate

Guys,

I don't know what your so worried about, they are getting out of directly manufacturing their own panels (like Sony) but they are still building TV's
According to Home Cinema Choice this month they are working on the 10th Generation screen codenamed FUGA and its supposed to be even better than the KRP-600 panel

CS

big_moe

im just reading that Home Cinema Choice as well, unfortunately they went to print before the big announcement.

Pioneer were going to put the manufacture of their panels out to Panasonic, but Panasonic announced job cuts and the delay of a new panel manufacture plant so Pioneer couldnt get panels from Panny so Pioneer decided to pull out completey of TVs.

There are NO NEW PIONEER TV (plasma, lcd or projector). the current line up is the last (LX5090 & KRP-500). Pioneer UK say they have stocks "to last hopefully to the end of the year".

there'll be no 10G panels using that new FUGA tech unfortunately

cheapskate

What? But that's ludricous!

Surely they would at least sell their technology (research) to some other interested party, if afterall they made the 'best' plasma panels then some other maker would want that prestigeous title 'Kuro' (maybe they would in better economic times)

That is bad news, I have to buy one so (sevenoaks & Alliance Elect. 500A €2799 or the 5090 for 2 grand) I hope the 2009 Sony's aren't that good

CS

Petetheroadie

cheapskate wrote: »

What? But that's ludricous!

Surely they would at least sell their technology (research) to some other interested party, if afterall they made the 'best' plasma panels then some other maker would want that prestigeous title 'Kuro' (maybe they would in better economic times)

That is bad news, I have to buy one so (sevenoaks & Alliance Elect. 500A €2799 or the 5090 for 2 grand) I hope the 2009 Sony's aren't that good

CS

If you're going to buy one, get it from richer sounds in Belfast. I got mine there & can't recommend them enough!

Pete

cheapskate

Thanks Pete,

Will check out Richersounds but they only ever have the 5090 price on their website never saw any reference to the KRP 500!

OK Kids, I know your sick of stale fried bread and water thinned milk but we have to pay for that Kuro

CS

(No kids were harmed in anyway for the making of this post)

charlie1966

Initial post says that Pioneer will not be making plasma TVs anymore but does that mean they will still be making or supplying LCD TVs, ie 32" to 46"?

big_moe

its not really as good value any more going north. the way sterling has calmed down now you're only saving 50 quid or so on the LX5090... and im sure you could talk down a dealer in the republic for 50 quid.

big_moe

charlie1966 wrote: »

Initial post says that Pioneer will not be making plasma TVs anymore but does that mean they will still be making or supplying LCD TVs, ie 32" to 46"?

Pioneer are stopping the manufacture of all types of displays (Plasma, LCD & projector)

Richersounds.ie: John

cheapskate wrote: »

Thanks Pete,

Will check out Richersounds but they only ever have the 5090 price on their website never saw any reference to the KRP 500!

OK Kids, I know your sick of stale fried bread and water thinned milk but we have to pay for that Kuro

CS

(No kids were harmed in anyway for the making of this post)

Cheap,

Richer sounds Belfast DO stock the KRP500!

Thanks as ever,

John Mc

lickirishallsor

I'm shocked at this, by far the finest plasmas on the market, along with Panasonic.

big_moe

cheapskate wrote: »

Surely they would at least sell their technology (research) to some other interested party, if afterall they made the 'best' plasma panels then some other maker would want that prestigeous title 'Kuro' (maybe they would in better economic times)

i don't think that will happen. of course i'd love if it did! but the reason Pioneer are going out of the tv biz is because in this day & age, §hit sells. there aren't enough people who are willing to spend the money on premium products anymore. So if some other manufacturer bought the Kuro and the Fuga technology they would have to charge big bucks for the products and, as seen from the Pioneer situation, there isn't enough demand for top notch premium products anymore.

M00lers

Hi cheapskate, have not been on here for a week so I've just seen your post. I got it from Richersounds in Belfast , I paid 2150 sterling just before christmas. It a great set.
Big moe is right about the LX5090 its fairly priced at alliance now, but the 500A is a lot cheaper up north.
Good luck.