Rachel_Sandford
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The television industry has been rapidly changing in the past couple of years. Technology-wise, it's been quite exciting, especially with the coming of 3D TVs, Smart TVs, Internet TVs, OLED screens, etc. On the manufacturing side, however, things are not as exciting. As consumers demand cheaper sets of higher technology, television manufacturers around the world have felt the hit. Japanese manufacturers have struggled with increased price competition and suffering export sales as Korean companies like Samsung and LG lead the way in creating television sets.
Among the companies to suffer is Hitachi. The company just announced that it will cease making televisions by the end of September 2012. Sayori Nishino, a spokeswoman for the company explained that Hitachi will be outsourcing their TV manufacturing to foreign firms, something they started doing in 2009. Their remaining plant in Gifu, which has been producing just 100,000 TVs a month, will be converted into a manufacturing plant for projectors and chips. Nishino also announced that despite outsourcing their manufacturing, the company will continue to sell the Wooo television brand.
Hitachi is not the only one to suffer, however. Both Sony and Panasonic have had their credit ratings downgraded by Moody, an investment service. Panasonic now finds itself sixth to the highest, while Sony is at a shocking third to the lowest, a rating that is no doubt related to Sony's announcement that it is no longer in a joint venture with Samsung.
Given that they are all struggling, the Japanese government has agreed to fund a merger between Hitachi, Sony, and Toshiba. The government will fund $2.6bn, about 70% of the venture, which will merge the LCD units of the three companies. The consolidation will create the world's largest manufacturer of small and medium sized LCD screens. Each of the firms will gain over 20% of the market share, giving them a fighting chance over Samsung.
Among the companies to suffer is Hitachi. The company just announced that it will cease making televisions by the end of September 2012. Sayori Nishino, a spokeswoman for the company explained that Hitachi will be outsourcing their TV manufacturing to foreign firms, something they started doing in 2009. Their remaining plant in Gifu, which has been producing just 100,000 TVs a month, will be converted into a manufacturing plant for projectors and chips. Nishino also announced that despite outsourcing their manufacturing, the company will continue to sell the Wooo television brand.
Hitachi is not the only one to suffer, however. Both Sony and Panasonic have had their credit ratings downgraded by Moody, an investment service. Panasonic now finds itself sixth to the highest, while Sony is at a shocking third to the lowest, a rating that is no doubt related to Sony's announcement that it is no longer in a joint venture with Samsung.
Given that they are all struggling, the Japanese government has agreed to fund a merger between Hitachi, Sony, and Toshiba. The government will fund $2.6bn, about 70% of the venture, which will merge the LCD units of the three companies. The consolidation will create the world's largest manufacturer of small and medium sized LCD screens. Each of the firms will gain over 20% of the market share, giving them a fighting chance over Samsung.