Vizio to Stop Producing Plasma HDTVs
The discount TV maker will focus exclusively on LCD.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (February 11, 2009) -- Vizio says it has stopped producing Plasma High-Definition sets and will now concentrate entirely on its LCD series, according to the New York Times.
In an article published today, Vizio's co-founder, Laynie Newsome, told the newspaper that the company is nearly out of existing Plasma inventory, although it's still selling Plasma sets at its web site. And the low-cost TV maker has no plans to resume Plasma production.
Newsome explained the company's decision by saying that Plasma does not sell as well as LCD in part because its picture does not look as good in retail showrooms. Generally, Plasma sets look better in dark rooms while LCD sets fare better in well-lit rooms, such as electronics stores.
Vizio's decision is another blow to the Plasma HDTV which has lagged behind the LCD in sales over the past two years for a variety of reasons. Vizio has become a top seller of new TVs because of its lower prices and consumer-friendly promotions.
The Times notes that Vizio's departure leaves just three large-volume Plasma makers in the United States: market leader Panasonic, Samsung and LG Electronics.
