LG Electronics says to end production of plasma TVs

[kalpikos]

It looks like the end of the plasma TV is near.

LG Electronics has finally joined the ranks of other major TV manufacturers and will stop production of its plasma TV in November.

A decline in demand for plasma panels led LG to pull the plug. According to Reuters, plasma TVs accounted for only 2.4% of LG's 2013 annual revenue.
As LCD TVs have dominated the television market, the announcement isn't a surprise. Plasma has been unable to keep up with LCD, which consumes less power and generates less heat, and manufacturers are now focusing on LCD and OLED TVs.

"We wanted to keep it going as long as we could," LG spokesman Ken Hong told Reuters. "No matter how much we try to keep it going it's just not a business anymore."

Likewise, Panasonic ceased production last year. Sony, Vizio, and Toshiba also don't make plasma TVs.

When LG shuts down production, Samsung will be the last major player in the plasma TV business but declined to say where it would get the plasma panels once sister company Samsung SDI Co Ltd pulls out of the business by end-November.

[josht5]

Re: LG Electronics says to end production of plasma TVs

(Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) said on Monday that it will cease its light emitting diode (LED) lighting business outside of South Korea, scaling back what was identified as a key growth business just four years ago.

The pullback comes on the heels of Dutch rival Philips' (PHG.AS) recent decision to spin off its century-old lighting business. Price wars have slashed profitability to levels deemed too unattractive in the long run, despite an LED boom that has upended the global incandescent lighting industry.

Analysts say Samsung Electronics' retreat reflects the growing competition from Chinese manufacturers even as demand for LED lighting remains strong. LED lamps last 10 times longer than fluorescent bulbs and 100 times longer than traditional incandescent tungsten filament bulbs.

"It appears that Samsung decided to fold the business because price competition was so fierce and there was not a lot of room for growth going forward," said Seoul-based IM Investment analyst Lee Min-hee.

Philips said in September that it will spin off its lighting business to expand its higher-margin healthcare and consumer divisions. Two month earlier, Germany's Osram Licht AG (OSRn.DE), which also makes LED lights, announced a cost-cutting plan that included nearly 8,000 job cuts.

A spokeswoman at Samsung Electronics said revenue contribution from the business was small but did not comment on specifics, including how much Samsung had invested.

"We will remain active in the LED industry through our LED component business," Samsung Electronics said in an emailed statement, adding that it will focus on areas such as backlighting for displays of consumer products like televisions.

Samsung's decision also underscores the challenges faced by the company and the wider Samsung Group in nurturing new growth drivers. Samsung Electronics is battling falling profits in its smartphone business, the world's largest, and group patriarch Lee Kun-hee has been hospitalized since a May heart attack.

In 2010, Samsung Group identified LED, rechargeable cells for hybrid electric cars, solar cells, medical devices and biopharmaceuticals as new growth drivers for the conglomerate and tipped them to generate 50 trillion won ($47.5 billion) in annual revenues by 2020 for its affiliates.

[odysseas1991]

Re: LG Electronics says to end production of plasma TVs

The only positive to a plasma TV in my opinion was that they could make the TVs large and cheap. I have never been impressed by the quality of the image against LEDs and LCD displays. They also wear out much faster and fade in colour after long use.

[desert_rose]

Re: LG Electronics says to end production of plasma TVs

this action should be taken long time ago ... especially after LCD & LED technology with the quality of full Hd & Ulter hd... etc

[radtom]

Re: LG Electronics says to end production of plasma TVs

the price should drop now but why bother?.the technology is moving so fast its mindblowing.

[kalpikos]

Re: LG Electronics says to end production of plasma TVs

The price of a LG 60'' plasma tv in my country is about 700€.
They have drop the prices but none is buying.

People prefer LED TVs because already know that plasma will stop very soon on the market.

[josht5]

Re: LG Electronics says to end production of plasma TVs

Trouble is , here in the UK the major shops have stocks of Plasma TV's and the salesmen are pushing these on to customers that don't know any different , especially the older folk that have no clue about technology .

[yselim]

Re: LG Electronics says to end production of plasma TVs

plasma tvs also consume aproximately three times more energy compared to leds.

[kalpikos]

Re: LG Electronics says to end production of plasma TVs

plasma tvs also consume aproximately three times more energy compared to leds.

You are right my friend

There is a huge difference in energy consumed between them.

For a 50'' led tv the annual cost of using it will be about 10€ but for a 50'' plasma tv is about 50€.

Plasma is a technology that we have enjoyed for 13 years, but now this is the end.
We have to proceed with lcd tvs and oled.

[findeciclo]

Re: LG Electronics says to end production of plasma TVs

Plasma screen is outdated, so on I have observed refresh rate speed is so slow that if you uses the tv set for a prolongated time you`ll have vision problems.
I know the last plasma generations have 600 Mhzs. refresh rate, but so on, flickering image is clear. Usually Plasma definition is 720p so the new Oled technology give us 4K ultra high definition.
Today Plasma tv is a past relic as CRT High Black Square Trinitron screens.
So I think LG Electronics and surely, Samsung too will stop the Plasma production nearly.
New techonologies come to us very quickly, so much quickly that nobody can use a device more than 2 years in order to have the last tech product.
I think, the manufacturers must wait 3 years to introduce new technologies to the market, because in this way we always are outdated, and we must spend a lot of money.
CTR-Plasma-LCD-HD Ready 720p-Full HD 1080p-LED-OLED-AMOLED-DIRECT LED-Active 3D-Passive 3D-4K-Curved screens... What else?
Best regards.

[rizwan]

Re: LG Electronics says to end production of plasma TVs

There is also lot of Stock in my local market and it take some time to finish, If it still in market, then people use it till next 10 years