NEWS: The end of the line for Pioneer Kuro plasmas?

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There is mounting speculation that Pioneer will soon end more than a decade of plasma production and instead use panels made by Matsushita, parent company of Panasonic.

The official announcement is expected to come this Friday, as part of Pioneer's review of its current business strategy.

For now, the company is making no further comment other than the statement it made previously that we reported on here.

RIP? Pioneer's Award-winning PDP-428XD plasma TV

The company is expected to switch to LCD technology for its 42in screens, using panels produced by Sharp, but retaining plasma for screens of 50in and above.

Pioneer has three factories in Japan producing plasma panels: one in Izumi, Kagoshima Prefecture, one in Chuo, Yamanashi Prefecture and at Fukoroi, Shizuoka Prefecture.

So if you want a current Kuro plasma, looks like you'll have to grab one fast. We'll keep you posted on developments as soon as we get them.

Technorati Tags: 1080p, Full HD, Pioneer Kuro, plasma

Andy Clough
Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.