As the market for HDTVs becomes saturated, the TV industry is experiencing extreme upheaval: new gimmicks like 3D and Smart TVs haven't been enough to revive stagnating sales, and major players like Sony and Panasonic are drastically restructuring.
Sharp may sell shares to Hon Hai at a lower price due to falling stock value
With its stock price falling, Sharp may end up selling a stake of its company to Hon Hai for less than originally agreed upon.
Hon Hai raises the stakes, wants 20 percent ownership of Sharp
Hon Hai is looking to have a 20 percent stake in Sharp, doubling the amount set during a manufacturing agreement established earlier this year.
Ballooning losses at Sharp lead to 5,000 job cuts
Sharp is announcing a first quarter operating loss of ¥138.4 billion (about $1.76 billion) — nearly triple 2011’s first quarter loss of ¥49.3 billion (about $628 million). The loss had a huge effect on Sharp’s forecast for the fiscal year, which went from a ¥30 billion loss (about $382 million) to a ¥250 billion (about $3.18 billion) one for the year ending March, 2013.
Sony loses $312 million in Q1 2012 amid high restructuring costs
Sony's financial results for Q1 fiscal 2012.
Sony and Panasonic agree to co-develop large OLED panels for TVs by 2013
Sony and Panasonic agree to develop large OLED panels and modules for TVs.
Sony and Samsung enforcing minimum pricing on TVs
Samsung and Sony have both started restricting retailers from offering discounts on TVs.
Panasonic reports $10.2 billion loss for 2012, plasma TV sales fall more than 40 percent
Panasonic announced that its net loss for fiscal 2012 was 812.8 billion yen (about $10.2 billion)— an increase of more than 30 billion yen (about $375 million) from its revised forecast in February.
Sharp posts record $4.7 billion loss, expects to sell even fewer TVs in 2012
Sharp is posting a record 376 billion yen loss for fiscal 2011. It expects TV production to fall nearly twenty percent in 2012.
LG Display suffers third straight quarterly loss
For the third straight quarter LG Display has experienced a quarterly loss due to low demand, though things may turn around during Q2 2012.
Tablets the second most popular way to watch TV, says Viacom study
A Viacom study says that 15 percent of all TV viewing in the US is now done on tablets, making the devices the second most popular viewing platform.
Sony will reduce TV portfolio by 40 percent in 2012, look to commercialize OLED and Crystal LED TVs
How do you fix a problem like Sony's chronically ailing TV business?
Foxconn to take largest stake in Sharp's Osaka LCD plant, says Nikkei
Sharp will reportedly sell a further 7 percent of its stake to Dai Nippon Printing Co. and Toppan Printing Co, leaving Foxconn as the largest shareholder in Japan's most advanced LCD facility.
Sony doubles estimate for 2011 loss to record $6.4 billion
Sony has just announced that it'll report a record $6.4 billion loss for the 2011 financial year.
Is Sony rolling out its promised 'unilateral' pricing strategy?
Last month, we reported that Sony was planning to roll out a "unilateral" pricing strategy in the US on April 1st. This would essentially put an absolute minimum on what its retail partners could charge for Sony products, and its starting to look like this new strategy is rolling out as promised.
Sony entering commercial OLED TV partnership with AU Optronics?
ET News cites information from sources that Sony has sent engineers to an AU Optronics (AUO) factory in Taiwan in order to start OLED development.
Sony abandons further investment in Sharp LCD collaboration
Sony has announced that it will make no further investment in Sharp Display Products Corporation (SDP), its joint LCD production venture with Sharp, following yesterday's news that Foxconn would be taking a 46.5 percent stake. A decision on what Sony will do with its seven percent stake is expected by September.
Sharp enters manufacturing partnership with Foxconn to ensure business sustainability
Sharp has entered into a manufacturing agreement with Foxconn that will see the Taiwan-based supplier take a stake of around 10 percent in the Japanese manufacturer. Foxconn has invested about ¥67 billion ($809.1 million dollars) of capital into Sharp in return for around 121.65 million new shares.
Sony reorganizes into 'One Sony', prioritizes digital imaging, gaming, and mobile
Sony is unveiling its new management structure, including several new board appointees, and the addition of UX and medical business groups. The TV division will be placed directly under the supervision of CEO Kazuo Hirai.
Samsung LCD business spin off gains shareholder approval
Samsung is moving full steam ahead with its plans to spin off its unprofitable LCD-making division into a separate, fully-owned subsidiary. The company's shareholder have approved the move, which means that on April 1st we should see a new company called "Samsung Display Co."
Sharp installs Takashi Okuda as new president after forecasting record losses
Sharp has installed tktk as its new president, following a forecast of $3.5bn for the fiscal year of 2011.
Samsung spinning off its LCD business to focus on OLED
Samsung announced in a filing that it is spinning off its LCD division. The new subsidiary, tentatively named Samsung Display, will open its doors on April 1.
Samsung LCD flat panel division making a loss, may be spun off in favor of OLED
Samsung is considering restructuring its LCD flat panel production arm in response to weak demand and increasing competition from cheaper Chinese firms.
Sony downgraded by S&P due to loss-making TV division and 'severe' competition
Having suffered a debt rating downgrade by Moody's three weeks ago, Sony is today getting another negative outlook, this time from Standard and Poor's.
Panasonic forecasts record $10.24B annual loss for FY2011, $2.59B from Q3
Panasonic is forecasting a loss of ¥780 billion, by far the largest in the company's history. The company recorded a net loss of ¥197.6 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.
Sony posts $2 billion net loss for Q3 FY2011 results, forecasts $2.9 billion loss for full year
Sony has just posted its results for the third quarter of its 2011 fiscal year and as expected, the news is not great.
LG posts improved Q4 net loss thanks to profit from handset and TV divisions
LG reports an improved Q4 net loss thanks to profit from its handset and TV divisions.
Sony promotes Kazuo Hirai to President and CEO effective April 1st, Stringer to be Chairman of the Board
Sony has officially named Kazuo Hirai as President and CEO, replacing Howard Stringer in both roles. Stringer will become chairman of the board in June, remaining executive chairman until then.
Sharp slashing LCD production by half at Osaka plant in response to sagging HDTV market
Sharp is reportedly cutting LCD production at an Osaka plant by half in response to the sagging HDTV market.
Hitachi to stop domestic television manufacture in October
Hitachi has decided to withdraw from domestic production of televisions, becoming the latest Japanese manufacturer to run into the hurdles of the strong yen and foreign competition. Production will stop at its Gifu plant this October.
Sony and Panasonic take debt rating hit, television divisions largely to blame
Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the debt rating of both Sony and Panasonic, singling out continued losses from their television divisions as a primary reason for the shift.
Samsung buys Sony's stake in LCD joint venture for $939 million
Samsung buys Sony's S-LCD stake for $939 million and establishes strategic relationship to supply Sony LCD panels.
Strong TV sales for Samsung, Sharp as Sony struggles
Samsung and Sharp have both announced strong recent TV sales figures as Sony continues to struggle in the market.
WSJ: Sony considering internet-based cable TV alternative (update)
Sony has approached "several big media companies" about streaming television channels directly over the internet to Sony consumer electronics devices, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Sony CEO says company is investing heavily in 'a different kind of TV set'
Howard Stringer, Sony's Chief Executive Officer, has revealed his company plans to introduce a "different kind of TV set" in an effort to revitalize its fortunes and bottom line. He hasn't been willing to discuss the details of his plan, but we should expect to see the fruit of "a tremendous amount of R&D" whenever Sony does launch this new TV.
Sony forecasts $1.2 billion loss for the year
As expected, Sony just announced dismal earnings for the quarter and projected year.
Sony reshuffles TV division as market upheaval continues
Sony today announced that it's going to reorganize its ailing TV division into three groups, focused on LCD television, outsourcing, and next-generation products, respectively.