Sony to stop selling plasma TVs

Yes, it's pretty much been assumed for a couple of years now that sooner or later LCD would get good enough, cheap enough, and big enough to dethrone plasma as the king of flat panels (that is, until LCD is itself overtaken by OLED), but we didn't exactly think that Sony, the largest TV manufacturer in the world, would decide that beginning next year they were going to stop making plasma televisions to focus entirely on LCD TVs. We'll try not to get all sentimental about it, but obviously somebody at Sony ran the numbers and realized that making plasma TVs just wasn't worth it anymore.

[Thanks, Ethan]

UPDATE: Or maybe not. Read the update here.

[Jody @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I just sent you news of otherwise... but just incase! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4110283.stm

[bryan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Ah -- here is also a response from Sony via Reuters - "We will continue to focus on LCD and rear-projection televisions in our flat TV business. As for plasma televisions, we plan to continue production and sales," Sony said in a statement.

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/a070ce02-5228-11d9-961a-00000e2511c8.html

[Uncle Ward @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

How can manufacturers not make money on plasma TVs. The wear out after about 5 years, and you have to buy another one.

[Anthony @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I'll try not to rant here - but there is a huge misconception of the quality and $$ of plasma TVs. Plasma TVs should last just as long as any other rear projection TV (30,000hrs+) and comparativly Plasma is about a third of the cost of LCD. A 42" Sony LCD is $10,000!

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

No, no no no no no no no! Plasmas do NOT wear out after 5 years. You don't have to "refill" them. They don't burn-in if you play video games. They don't cause cancer. They don't eat babies.

What's with people not understanding plasma TVs?

[Bryan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Actually Sony never manufactured plasma TVs. They use plasma panels manufactured by NEC and they just supply the packaging.

[brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

http://www.noticias.info/asp/aspComunicados.asp?nid=43303

is a good read on some of the misconceptions of plasmad displays.

[Ian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Sony's Plasma panels are manufactured by arguably the best manufacturer which is Fujitsu, and Fujitsu branded Panels are actually more expensive than their Sony counterparts. I know this because Ive owned TWO of them and cracked the cases on both to verify it (KE-32TS2 and KE-37XS910). Plasma TV's DO burn-in VERY quickly if proper care is not taken to avoid leaving static images on the screen for TOO long. You can play video games but youll have to stop every couple of hours and watch something else if the game has alot of static content. Plasma Televisions can not be refilled and finally, Plasma display technology still far outweighs LCD in black level and overall film-like quality. LCD is still a joke for die-hard movie watching, but its getting better. Currently the best sets in that market are produced by Sharp.