Rich Fiscus
11 Aug 2007 8:32
Panasonic is going to be selling 37" LCD televisions starting in September. This reverses a policy of only selling plasma models at that size and higher.
Plasma's higher profit margins have fueled interest in the success of the technology by Japanese companies who have a hard time competing with Korean competitors for LCD sale.
While this policy has been in place, Panasonic has missed out on the growth of larger LCD display sales.
The 37-inch full high-definition LCD TV will go on sale in Japan on September 1 for an estimated price of 300,000 yen ($2,508). Osaka-based Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. aims to offer the model in overseas markets by the end of the year.
After surrendering to Korean manufacturers in the war for CRT televisions, Japanese manufacturers rely on flat panel displays for television revenue. As the largest electronics manufacturer in Japan, Matsushita's decisions are closely watched by the entire industry.
Source: Reuters