Pioneer is the world's fifth-largest plasma TV manufacturer and has constantly struggled
for relevance against the larger Panasonic brand (Matsushita). Now, Pioneer will
buy its panels from the competing brand and it will begin picking up LCD panels.

Pionner will stop all Plasma TV and move over to LCD.

Personal note:
It's moving to LCD to make more money. All who own a Pioneer screen, will know that LCD do not even come close to Plasma quality.

Sad to see Pioneer move to LCD's.

Link: plasma-tv-is-dead

Perhaps with Pioneers expertise in driving electronics will see when coupled with a state of the art LCD panel we will soon start to see the performance pull away from the herd, at a price

That is the ultimate problem, Pioneer simply can not sell produce enough panels to match mass market manufacturers and the premium Pioneer charge is simply too high.

The death of Plasma is very unfortunate. I'm surprised at this move as I'd have guessed Pioneer were probably making decent margins and had carved themselves a bit of a niche, but perhaps not. I hope Panasonic are here for the long hall, but the introduction of 37" LCDs (and I believe scrapping 37" plasmas in some countries) isn't a good sign.

I'd like at this point to introduce you all to the joys of DLP projection...

Why say Plasma is dead then put this in the statement.

For those concerned, this doesn't mean that Pioneer will exit the plasma business. It simply means that they are, in the interim at least, looking to leave the plasma panel manufacturing business, opting instead to purchase their panels from a company like Matsushita (Panasonic).

typical over reaction.

Not over looking this part either.

The same effect has happened to rear projection television, with manufacturers leaving those markets and technology in droves.

Old news
Just this year, Sony decided to eschew all screen technologies save LCD and OLED - and it had a large stake in its LCoS-based SXRD line.

This seems to put a better view on the Pioneer annoucement and should ensure some more excellent Pioneer Plasmas for some time yet:

http://www.homecinemachoice.com/cgi-...ws.php?id=9500

From a very happy Pioneer Plasma owner

That sounds more like the true state of affairs & less like the original "SUN" type headlne.

So, Pioneer is not stopping producing plasmas, they are just not going to produce their own panels to go into the plasma TVs that they will still be producing.

Plasma TV is NOT dead. Good journalism might be though.

Pioneer do the best TVs ever and I was sad to hear this news.

First i am not a Journalist.

Second I am member of D.S forum, i am here to find things out be that true or not.

Yep, a good Journalism might be good thing for you and me.. Nowever

If Pioneer Do Not Make Their Own Screen, then as far as i am concerned, they have stopped making plasma screens.

Second Best, is not good enough for me..

I rest my case LOL..

However, the story in the link supplied was written by a journalist (of some description), and that story was the main focus of your post, and hence my comment.

In that case Sony barely make LCD as the screens mainly come from a Samsung factory!
(I know that is an extreme example, before Nigel comes and tells me off!!!)

Well you need telling off , as it's completely incorrect.

Most Sony LCD's 'did' come from the S-LCD factory, a joint venture between Samsung and Sony, so they don't come from Samsung. Many LCD's in current Sony's are sourced elsewhere though.

But it's pretty irrelevant anyway, as Sony were the only company who always made their own CRT's, all other manufacturers bought many of them in, even Panasonic who manufactured tubes normally used Philips one.

You don't expect Ford to make the tires for their cars, why would you expect a TV manufacturer to make all their components?.

Fully agree Nigel, was just using it as an extreme example. The fact that Pioneer are going to be using panels form the worlds largest Plasma manufacturer should not be seen as a bad point. In the same way that a Samsung factory making panels to Sony spec is not a bad thing either. If this sort of thing did not happen companies would not survive and prices would soar.

Yes, you are right in your point, but bear in mind Pioneer have set a very high standard. The best screens money can buy.

I just hope Pioneer do not look back...

Were they any better than Fujitsu plasma panels?, who also pulled out of manufacturing them.

Yes, i believe that Pioneer have for 7 years now, offered the best screens money can buy. upto 50inch screens and recent 60inch screens

But if i had to pick a Great! screen Pioneer and Fujitsu would be top of my list by miles....

The thing to bare in mind is that if pioneer can buy screens of the standard they want to, cheeper than they can make them, and continue to uphold there good name and reputation, why not.
Plenty of car makers buy a shell direct from the original manufacturer then change almost all the components, make them better an charge more for them. Does that make them bad?

I know this will cause problems, but the best Plasma TV and the best LCD TV are not in the same group of quality.

I am talking about the best Plamsa and best LCD side by side. Pioneer Offer the best FLAT screens TV...

Unless Pioneer know how to improve LCD quality, why 2 steps back and turn to LCD or is it just to try and make a bigger profit.

I am not saying LCD are rubbish, LCD are very good, just at present Pioneer offer the best Flat screen TV which happen to be a Plasma and not LCD.