Pioneer stuck between Sharp & Panasonic as it exits plasma production

While the world waits for official word on the fate of Pioneer's plasma HDTV operations, The Nikkei offers an analysis of the state the company is in, and how it got here. The problems started with Sony's choice of LCD over plasma back in 2005, leaving Pioneer without a partner to sell its plasma panels (the way Samsung and Sharp sell Sony LCDs), and unable to reduce prices by boosting production. Now the company is caught between its top shareholder Sharp -- an LCD manufacturer, that wants to put Pioneer's speakers in its TVs and sell Pioneer LCDs -- and its new plasma supplier Panasonic (fear not, Panasonic hopes to exceed even the Kuro's contrast ratio in its upcoming displays). The Nikkei expects Pioneer to announce it will sell 40- to 50-inch LCD & plasma HDTVs at its press conference March 7, but we just want to know what happens to Project Kuro.

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[Derek @ Mar 5th 2008 4:56PM]

That's a pretty bad Photoshop job...

[Todd @ Mar 5th 2008 4:58PM]

Ok you have TOTALLY lost me on the film reference image. SRSLY.

I "got it" when Ryan Block used Casablanca for the Blu-ray / HD-DVD thing, but I do not understand this one and I demand Mr. Lawler explain it.

[Big Sam @ Mar 5th 2008 5:42PM]

Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in....

Adam's Rib?

[Ellianth @ Mar 5th 2008 6:17PM]

Nice to see all comments are about the photo so far. I was just about to say i didn't understand it either.

[boe @ Mar 5th 2008 7:09PM]

I want to see more articles about the new LARGER screens discussed at CES. Rumor has it that Sharp, Panasonic and Pioneer are all working on getting high quality, LARGE screens(80" in some cases), that the middle middle class can afford. I'm not talking those 70K things we've seen currently for very large screens - I'm talking sub $10K screens. While not everyone is going to want to spend that much - I remember 50" plasmas being about $20K not that long ago so $10K for a LARGE screen would probably well received. I know a lot of people with 65" screens that are several years old that would like to upgrade but are waiting for larger.

[Boynamedsue @ Mar 5th 2008 8:32PM]

bring your kid to work and let him play with photoshop is everyday for engadget.

[SimbaDogg @ Mar 6th 2008 4:01PM]

best comment...period

[Allen @ Mar 5th 2008 8:40PM]

I like the photoshop we see here.

As for Pioneer, I hope The Nikkei is just playing "Supermarket Tabloid."