Panasonic stopped plasma panel development or delisted in 2015

2012 is not the end of the world, but the "dummy" of plasma TV may not be far behind. Yesterday, it was reported that Matsushita planned to stop development of plasma panels by the end of 2012. Panasonic responded to this reporter's report that the news was not officially released and that Panasonic will continue its plasma business for television and non-television purposes. However, Panasonic’s statement did not directly address whether or not to stop plasma panel R&D. From the outside world, the outlook for plasma TVs has been very bad. Experts expect it to disappear in the market in 2015.

Market: Only 50% of Guangzhou chain stores sell

Plasma technology has once been a technology with LCD technology, regardless of advantage, even the dominant technology, once the Panasonic, Samsung, LG, Hitachi, Pioneer is known as the "plasma five tigers," the company has also been in the plasma TV industry force. However, since 2008, Pioneer and Hitachi have announced the withdrawal of plasma panel production. Samsung and LG also stopped investing in new panel production lines. With the gradual withdrawal of Japanese and Korean companies, the Changhong Group continued to increase its investment in plasma panel projects and formed "Hutchison" with Panasonic, replacing the previous "Five Tigers."

The reporter learned yesterday in Guangzhou stores that currently in the chain of stores, plasma TVs "only about half of the stores have sales, accounting for about 7%", the relevant person in charge of Gome, the brand in addition to Panasonic and Changhong, Samsung also has some Plasma product model.

Zhang Bing, Research Director of Display Search in China, quoted survey data, saying that plasma TV currently accounts for about 5% of the global TV market. He expects the sales of plasma TVs to be around 10 million units next year, which is more than 200 million units of sales. The LCD TV market has formed a strong contrast. "According to the laws of the industry, the scale is too small will cause the industrial chain to break, some component manufacturers such as raw materials and catalysts will choose to withdraw from this industry, and the plasma industry has no hope in the future."

Zhang Bing judged that, on a global scale, plasma TVs will be withdrawn from the market by 2015. “The situation in the country is similar. This year, there are only 2 million sales in the beginning and less than 6% in the television industry,” Zhang Bing said. "The speed of domestic delisting may be one or two years later, not too late."

Industry: plasma "big brother" began to abandon the camp
Japanese media reported yesterday that Panasonic plans to stop developing plasma panels at the end of 2012, and will focus on developing promising products such as OLED panels.

Responsible person of Panasonic responded to our correspondent that the above information was not published by Panasonic. Regarding the plasma business, Panasonic will also develop a business centered on high value-added products while developing TV applications and non-television applications. Panasonic's statement did not directly respond to rumors, and the outside world can only speculate about Panasonic's future strategy in plasma.

In fact, Panasonic has changed its strategy of sticking to plasma. In May of this year, Panasonic disclosed to this reporter that the company started to abandon the "plasma TV positioning large screen" approach this year. In this year's new products, Panasonic LCD TVs have surpassed plasma TVs.

Combining the news of the panel's R&D, analysts believe that as the “big brother” of the plasma camp, Panasonic will choose to gradually withdraw from the plasma camp.

Consumer tips: Consumers can still buy
Changhong relevant person in charge yesterday said in an interview with this reporter, Changhong current plasma TV sales are still "hot", he said that Changhong has not yet given up or transition ideas. The reporter learned that Changhong has occupied nearly 70% of the market share in domestic plasma sales, and it is only a single big company. However, it may be too late to wait until the industrial chain breaks down before transforming.

Zhang Bing believes that it is not a question of retreat, but a question of how to withdraw. "Investing in plasma companies should consider how to maximize the performance of plant capabilities to complete depreciation and try to recycle investment." He believes that in the direction of transformation, like solar energy The industry, the polysilicon industry, and the complete machine and module assembly are all directions that can be considered.

For consumers, will there be any worries about choosing a plasma TV? An expert in the industry analyzed that "plasma TV's failure is a market, not a technology." And the companies that sell plasma TVs basically belong to first-tier TV brands, and there will be no problems in the short-term after-sales service.