Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Slump in TV Sales May Push Smaller Makers Out

Likes of Hitachi, Pioneer don't have staying power of Sony and other giants

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 20, 2009 2:09 PM CST

(Newser) – A steep decline in demand for flat-panel TVs could push smaller manufacturers out of the market, the Wall Street Journal reports. As the economy sours and larger makers achieve economies of scale, the price gap between top brands and cheaper rivals has shrunken dramatically. The top five makers accounted for 60% of sales in the third quarter of 2008, up from 53% year earlier.

The larger manufacturers, like Sony and Panasonic, were able to offer deep discounts during the poor holiday season because of efficiencies. Consumers already wary of budget models flocked to the sale models, and retailers are taking note. One executive said, given the situation, it was “extremely possible” that smaller, cheaper competitors like Vizio and Pioneer “are going to be squeezed.”

Sony is poised to emerge from the slump, unlike some of its smaller competitors.
Sony is poised to emerge from the slump, unlike some of its smaller competitors.   (AP Photo)
Customers leave a Best Buy store.
Customers leave a Best Buy store.   (AP Photo)
A Mitsubishi flat panel TV.
A Mitsubishi flat panel TV.   (AP Photo)
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (which owns Panasonic) President Fumio Otsubo attends a press conference in Tokyo.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (which owns Panasonic) President Fumio Otsubo attends a press conference in Tokyo.   (AP Photo)
A customer shops for flat screen televisions at a Best Buy.
A customer shops for flat screen televisions at a Best Buy.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Slashed Prices Signal Retailer Worries

Black Friday Sets $11.4B Record

Credit Reform May Drain $9B in Holiday Sales

TV to Go 3D in 2010

Lousy Retail Sales Will Delay Recovery


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne