Pioneer, one year after it killed off Kuro

[Andrew Everard]

So what's Pioneer been doing in the year since it announced it was pulling out of the TV business?

It all happened on February 12, 2009 – and as explained in this blog post, the company's had some rocky times, but is now looking a lot safer...

 

[Deleted member 2457]

It is going to be a very interesting year for pioneer and there products releases should be very interesting.

 

[ear]

wonder if they will get back someday to tv business..

 

[Andrew Everard]

Somehow, I don't think so, given the amount of money the last foray into this sector created.

 

[aliEnRIK]

Andrew Everard:Somehow, I don't think so, given the amount of money the last foray into this sector created.

Do you have any details on that Andrew?

 

[Andrew Everard]

It was irony - the TV operation contributed significantly to the losses Pioneer was making, and its precarious financial situation.

 

[aliEnRIK]

Andrew Everard:It was irony - the TV operation contributed significantly to the losses Pioneer was making, and its precarious financial situation.

So they wernt selling enough, or they werent selling them high enough?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Both, and in both domestic and export markets. In the early days of plasma Pioneer had around half the Japanese market; by the time it launched Kuro that was down below 3%.

And the tumbling prices of flatscreen TVs always meant that Kuro was a gamble, in that the sets were pitched above the prices of all but a few rivals. Yes, they attracted a following in the specialist arena, but the company never really got significant market share with them, while the Korean rivals in particular gained traction and went on to take market leadership.

Also, while Pioneer even at its peak had a relatively small workforce by the standards of big Japanese consumer electronics companies, its sales revenue per head of staff was considerably less than those of the big players.

As a result, even though senior management described the decision taken last year as 'gut-wrenching', it had a certain inevitablity about it.

 

[aliEnRIK]

Cheers Andrew

I do recall quite a few people hearing how 'good' the Kuros were, but when sat next to a Panasonic say, the price never really looked to be worth it

 

[Andrew Everard]

...And that was the problem, in a

 

[Deleted member 2457]

When do you think we will hear news from pioneer on blu ray players and amps?

March, April, May, June, July? Further down the line?

Thanks

 

[Clare Newsome]

We'll be catching up with Pioneer at next week's Bristol Sound and Vision Show - sure we'll know more after that re 2010 launch plans.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Clare Newsome:We'll be catching up with Pioneer at next week's Bristol Sound and Vision Show - sure we'll know more after that re 2010 launch plans.

Thanks Clare, I am finding this a bit frustrating.