Panasonic ending plasma TV production

[Don Vito Corleone]

From http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/31/5050038/panasonic-plasma-tv-production-end -

After the heartbreak of losing Pioneer's excellent Kuro line, Panasonic's plasma displays were the last bastion of hope for plasma TV enthusiasts, but now even they are going extinct. Panasonic today confirmed a Reuters report from earlier this month that it is exiting the plasma TV market with almost immediate effect — production of new units will end in December and all related operations will be wrapped by March next year. Two of Panasonic's three factories have already stopped building new units and the third will join them in about a month's time.

Panasonic made a strong effort to push its plasma TVs this year — coming to CES in January with a fully refreshed home theater lineup — however the economics of plasma display production just haven't worked out for the company. Though consumer demand is apparently still firm, Panasonic says that "due to rapid, drastic changes in the business environment" and price pressure from more affordable LCD TVs, the unhappy decision had to be made. That leaves HD enthusiasts with a few months to save up the money to buy a ZT60, the last in a proud line of beautiful TVs.

Sigh - 'tis a shame. One wonders whether Samsung will soldier on with plasma - it doesn't seem likely but I guess one never knows.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Saw that this morning. Very sad news. I have 3 Panasonic plasmas and love them. It makes me wonder if I should go ahead and spring for a VT/ZT series before it is too late.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Man that sucks. I love my ST50.

 

[iRONic]

Well that sucks. I'm glad I got an S60 this time around.

I'll upgrade in ~5 years.

 

[destrekor]

I got an P50ST60 this year and am extremely pleased with the decision to get one now as opposed to having continued to wait. I love this set - it is definitely sad news that there will not be another Panasonic to replace it once she has given all she's got. Hopefully other technologies (like OLED) have come and matured strongly by the time I need a new set.

 

[Drako]

Not exactly news, but sad that there is an official date.

 

[Anubis]

well looks like im getting a new TV this holiday season or sooner

 

[Dari]

Plasmas are no longer needed now that OLED is hitting the scene. Panasonic will focus on 4K OLEDs next year.

 

[Kaido]

Bah. Was planning on going with a Panny plasma next year

I'm still mad that Mitsubishi dropped their DLP & Laser line. My 60" DLP RPTV is the best TV I've ever seen, next to the Kuro (and I think the Mitsu does live-action films better!). But alas, someday it will die and I will be stuck with LED

 

[soulcougher73]

Glad i got my 65" Panasonic from Costco a few months ago then. Love the TV.

 

[Anubis]

Plasmas are no longer needed now that OLED is hitting the scene. Panasonic will focus on 4K OLEDs next year.

OLEDs are no where close to the price and availability of any current gen TV.

the very few on the market all cost something close to 10k, and come in 1 size

we are going to be stuck with normal LCDs and nothing else for a while before OLEDs become affordable for the masses and truly replace anything

 

[SlickSnake]

I bought this http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/TC-P60U50 for $699 on clearance at Fry's in March because I had already read this was going to happen soon. It is no frills, but If I decide to game on it later, that also means almost no LAG compared to the 3d plasma models out now, too.

R.I.P. Panny Plasmas :'(

 

[Pacfanweb]

OLEDs are no where close to the price and availability of any current gen TV.

the very few on the market all cost something close to 10k, and come in 1 size

we are going to be stuck with normal LCDs and nothing else for a while before OLEDs become affordable for the masses and truly replace anything

I agree.

Getting ready to buy a 65" ST60, most likely, and hope to get 10 years out of it like I've gotten out of my Samsung DLP so far.

Then in ten years, OLED should be where Plasma is now, price-wise. 10 years ago, Plasma was where OLED is now, maybe even higher.

 

[LegendKiller]

Just bought a 65" ZT60 today. It's sad to see a TV like this end up going out of production.

 

[boomhower]

I bought a Panny ST30 a few years ago and love it. At the time it seemed you had to spend double to get around the same picture quality in an LED. I like to upgrade every five years of so but looks like I'll stretch this one out.

 

[Crow550]

Well it does make you wonder how Panasonic is going to design there LED LCDs since it will now be there primary models to sell....

 

[Imported]

Damnit.. I hope my 55" ST50 lasts 5-6 more years. Love this TV.

 

[Drako]

Well it does make you wonder how Panasonic is going to design there LED LCDs since it will now be there primary models to sell....

They already design and sell LCD TVs. How would closing their Plasma factories affect their LCD lines?

 

[destrekor]

They already design and sell LCD TVs. How would closing their Plasma factories affect their LCD lines?

He was saying he wonders how they will focus on their LCD models now that they are the only models they will be producing.

Which is a fair point to bring up, because their LCDs are not exactly market competitive. They don't perform as well, nor look as good, as the better offerings from the other manufacturers.
Panasonic was not known for their LCDs. They made their name with their PDP tech, even more so after Pioneer folded up the Kuro brand and Panasonic took in those engineers. With that focus of theirs dead as well, how well will Panasonic pick up the LCD mantle?

Or, do you think Panasonic will now shift their PDP facilities toward a mixed production floor between LCD and OLED? I think Panasonic getting involved in OLED, or R&D of another display tech, is more important for their long-term survival in the display business, as opposed to focusing all their chips on their LCD products they offer now. I don't even know, without looking it up: is Panasonic even an LCD manufacturer? I know the PDP was entirely in house, but, do they design and manufacturer the LCD panels, or do they source them from the likes of LG or Samsung (or another manufacturer)?

If they want to succeed, their LCDs need a major boost in quality and advertising. I think that money is better spent elsewhere - hopefully they have a good plan.

 

[Drako]

He was saying he wonders how they will focus on their LCD models now that they are the only models they will be producing.

Which is a fair point to bring up, because their LCDs are not exactly market competitive. They don't perform as well, nor look as good, as the better offerings from the other manufacturers.
Panasonic was not known for their LCDs. They made their name with their PDP tech, even more so after Pioneer folded up the Kuro brand and Panasonic took in those engineers. With that focus of theirs dead as well, how well will Panasonic pick up the LCD mantle?

Or, do you think Panasonic will now shift their PDP facilities toward a mixed production floor between LCD and OLED? I think Panasonic getting involved in OLED, or R&D of another display tech, is more important for their long-term survival in the display business, as opposed to focusing all their chips on their LCD products they offer now. I don't even know, without looking it up: is Panasonic even an LCD manufacturer? I know the PDP was entirely in house, but, do they design and manufacturer the LCD panels, or do they source them from the likes of LG or Samsung (or another manufacturer)?

If they want to succeed, their LCDs need a major boost in quality and advertising. I think that money is better spent elsewhere - hopefully they have a good plan.

It's clear that this last year, Panasonic has moved most of their TV research into OLED, and most of their TV marketing into LCD. Take a look at their 2013 LCD line - they are really sharply designed. They do need to catch up a bit with Sony and Samsung on image quality as far as their higher end models go, but they are very competitive.