Manufacturers Drop Plasma TVs as LCD Takes Over

TV buyers are increasingly choosing liquid-crystal-display over plasma as LCD manufacturers beef up the technological capabilities of their sets, the Wall Street Journal reports. With 30 million LCDs sold in North America in 2008, compared with 4 million plasmas, Pioneer and Vizio are discontinuing their plasma lines. The shift means consumers can find deep discounts on plasma sets, once a strictly luxury item.

Plasmas used to beat LCDs in picture quality and viewing angles—how far off to the side of the TV one can sit and still see an undistorted picture. But recent advances have boosted the refresh rate and contrast ratios for LCDs. Plasmas are also dogged by stories of “screen burn,” though manufacturers insist newer sets don’t have the problem. (More Plasma TV stories.)