The Plasma TV: An Endangered Species?
Pioneer prepares to stop all production of the flat-screen set.
By Swanni
So, why aren't more people buying Plasma HDTVs -- and why are more manufacturers deciding to stop making them?
Reuters reports today that Pioneer may be the latest TV maker to pull the plug on Plasma panel production, although it would continue to sell Plasma sets using panels purchased from Matsushita.
The wire service writes that Pioneer is the world's fifth-biggest plasma TV maker, but it has lagged in sales behind Matsushita's Panasonic brand among others.
However, in addition to disappointing company sales, overall Plasma sales have fallen behind its flat-screen rival, LCD, in the past 12-18 months.
Several research firms have projected that LCD's lead will widen in the coming years, although Plasma sales made a small comeback in last year's fourth quarter.
The Plasma set was once regarded as an American status symbol, but LCD has taken over in the past year in part because LCD makers rolled out 1080p sets earlier than Plasma manufacturers.
In a nod to Plasma's sagging reputation, Pioneer last year stopped referring to its Kuro Plasma set as a Plasma set in marketing efforts. Instead, it just called it a Kuro high-def TV.
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