With the launch of its highly acclaimed KURO range, Pioneer announced itself as a player in the prestige high-end AV market. But with losses of around £70million last year, the company has had a rethink and decided to cease production of its KURO plasma TV range, which many (me included) think to be the best TVs available irrespective of the plasma/LCD debate.
The announcement stated that Pioneer will 'resolve to restructure its display business and implement measures to enhance corporate value'.
Fans of the KURO range need not despair quite yet, as this isn't the end of Pioneer plasmas. The company will still sell KUROs using in-house technology, but the actual panels will be sourced externally: 'We have judged that maintaining the cost competitiveness of plasma display technology panels at projected sales volumes will be difficult going forward. Accordingly, we have decided to terminate in-house plasma display production and to procure these panels externally'.
Pioneer has also revealed plans to push into the more lucrative LCD market with Sharp delivering the displays to be sold under the Pioneer KURO brand. It's not just a case of plonking a Pioneer badge on an Aquos set though, as the company promises to work with Sharp's technicians to 'carry on the legacy of the KURO series in terms of high picture and sound quality'.
We're keeping our fingers crossed that this doesn't mean an end to the developments revealed at CES this year, namely that amazing 9mm thin plasma display and the contrast ratio free Absolute Black model.
www.pioneer.co.uk
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