Sony's big plans for OLED HDTVs may slip to next year

Hope you weren't too attached to the idea of "medium to large" sized OLED HDTVs coming from Sony this year, according to the Wall Street Journal's sources, the company's slipping share of TV sales mean profitability takes precedence over sweet, super slim new displays. Surprised by its inability to sell truckloads of $2,500 11-inch versions CEO Howard Stringer decided to put the project on the back burner, apparently more focused on things like competing in Wal-Mart and implementing cheaper LED technology for its LCDs. With LG also on a timetable that puts us a year or more away from seeing one of these on store shelves in decent sizes, things are up to Samsung to bring it home -- we're waiting.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 17th 2009 8:09PM]

LCD is the status quo and the public is becoming numb to the technology. With two different kinds of LED lighting and reviewers saying they prefer the picture with the 120hz and the 240hz turned off, it's time for something new and sporting a serious WOW factor. The early bird gets the worm.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 17th 2009 8:34PM]

I think they are starting a trend.

Sony needs a new tagline.


Sony: Perhaps Next Year.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2009 10:30AM]

Didn't you know Sony stands for:

Soon
Only
Not
Yet

[xCrunk Posted Aug 17th 2009 9:15PM]

Keep waiting, dummies. In this current economic climate, where cheap wins, uber gizmo's aren't gonna sell, especially at those prices. 50" seems to be the baseline these days, and the chances of us seeing a 50" OLED that's under $2K is slim to none. That's about 5 years out, if that.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 17th 2009 10:26PM]

Actually, cheap DOESN'T win. If it did, RPTVs would be alive and kicking, and FPTV would be taking over the market. Instead, they are both being kicked seriously to the curb in favor of fashionably thin LCDs with high price per diagonal inch.

I think large OLEDs will have a place among well-heeled consumers, and trickle down eventually to the mass market.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 17th 2009 9:51PM]

Quite frankly, I'd be happy with the new Panasonic 65V10, calibrated, and in front of my couch. There IS some very good stuff that is out now and that is affordable. I don't want to spend my whole life waiting.

[Dragngt Posted Aug 17th 2009 10:07PM]

Ken, there's always something newer and better on the way.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2009 12:17AM]

I agree, but is the marketplace ready for yet another improved flat panel tech ??

Both plasma & LCD have evolved immensely, the top rated panels offer exceptional PQ for the dollar (boasting: my KRP-500M is better than anything I've seen, under $2000). They're constantly improving, becoming more affordable, efficient also. 52% (?) of American households now have a HDTV, mostly within the past 2-3 yrs. The others likely don't feel the need to upgrade or can't afford the cost.

I don't see a large percentage of present HDTV owners eager to upgrade to a new (unproven) tech that would be MUCH MORE costly than their current HDTV. The PQ improvement would be, 20%, 30 % ??

From the CRT to the current LCD/plasma WAS A MAJOR improvement in PQ and styling (flat panel), with the market responding overwhelmingly. I don't see the expensive OLED inspiring the public to buy another new HDTV.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2009 1:55AM]

since virtually no one will be able to afford these "medium to large" OLED's, i somehow doubt anyone will care.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2009 6:40AM]

I think the next big thing will be 3D and Super Hi-def. Not ultra expensive monitors the size (and ten times the price) of a Netbook.

[Flowah Posted Aug 18th 2009 7:28AM]

Yeah... who would spend $2500 on a 11 inch OLED when you could spend that much and get a 40+ inch LED edge/backlit TV? Or get a B650/B750 series?

I would be interested in knowing WHO bought these things.

"Omigawd, I absolutely need an 11 inch screen, and I am willing to pay $2500 to get it." Christ.

[LonnieDVD Posted Aug 18th 2009 9:07AM]

Sony thought people would pay $2500 for an 11 inch OLED? Ha Ha Ha, someone please give Sony a dose of COMMON SENSE! Like Flowah said, people will use that $2500 for a much bigger TV.

[Spiza Posted Aug 18th 2009 9:15AM]

Lets do a cash for clunkers for TVs!

Damn I hate my government.

[daaper Posted Aug 18th 2009 9:46AM]

If it's anything like the first-time home buyers refund, they'll do it a little after I buy one and make it retroactive until the month after I bought it. Who wants $8000 for free anyways...

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2009 9:28AM]

Seems this makes buying a high end local dimming LED/LCD much safer. I highly doubt any 60" OLED will be coming out in the next 10 years even. So might as well plop down big money on a Samsung b8500 or something now. I would soon, but I'm waiting for even LCD's to get reasonable at 60"+

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2009 11:45AM]

I think Sony made the right decision. The market for OLED will be very limited in the near future. For Sony to bolster its bottom line, they have to go after the mass market. Acidophiles are not mass market and not where most of the money to be made. The WOW factor will not translate into big bucks in the current economic environment which could last for a while.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 18th 2009 11:46AM]

Meant videophiles in the original post.