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Sony and Samsung Shift to New LCD Panel Business Alliance

•Samsung to acquire all of Sony's shares of S-LCD, making the joint venture its wholly-owned subsidiary
• Sony andSamsung enter into a strategic agreement for supply and purchase of LCD panels.

Tokyo, Japan - Sony Corporation ("Sony") andSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd. ("Samsung") today announced that the two companies have signed agreements to transition the current business relationship with respect to LCD panels.

Under the agreement, Samsung will acquire all of Sony's shares of S-LCD Corporation ("S-LCD"), the two companies' LCD panel manufacturing joint venture, making S-LCD a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung. In consideration for the share transfer, cash consideration of approximately KRW 1.08 trillion* will be paid to Sony by Samsung. Concurrently, the two companies have entered into a new strategic agreement for the supply and purchase of LCD panels with a goal of enhancing the competitiveness of both companies. The agreement also allows Sony and Samsung to continue cooperative engineering efforts focused on LCD panel technology.

For Sony, this transaction will enable it to monetize its shares in S-LCD and aims to secure a flexible and steady supply of LCD panels from Samsung, based on market prices and without the responsibility and costs of operating a manufacturing facility. With whole ownership of S-LCD, Samsung anticipates heightened flexibility, speed and efficiency in both panel production and business operations.

Established in April 2004, S-LCD has continued to deliver advanced and cost-competitiveLCD panels to both of its parent companies, contributing to the expansion of the respective parties' TV businesses, and the large-sized LCD TV market overall. However, LCD panel and TV market conditions have now changed. In order to respond to such challenging conditions and to strengthen their respective market competitiveness, the two companies have agreed to shift to a new LCD panel business alliance.

The share transfer and payment are targeted to close by the end of January 2012, subject to necessary approvals from regulatory authorities.

As a result of this transaction, a non-cash impairment loss of approximately JPY 66 billion is expected to be incurred by Sony in the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, due to the reevaluation of its S-LCD shares. This loss includes an impact from the fluctuation of exchange rate. Despite this one-time loss, Sony estimates that the transaction will result in substantial savings on and after January 1, 2012 in respect of costs associated with its
procurement of LCD panels. The current estimate of the yearly savings in respect of such costs is approximately JPY 50 billion, compared to LCD panel procurement costs estimated for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012. Neither the one-time loss nor the estimated cost savings were included in Sony's forecast of consolidated financial results for the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, announced on November 2, 2011. Sony is currently reevaluating this forecast, taking into account this transaction and other factors that might affect its full year FY2011 consolidated financial results forecast.

Facts about S-LCD

Established: April 26, 2004
Capital: KRW 3.3 Trillion
(Samsung Electronics: 50% plus 1 share, Sony: 50% minus 1 share)
Representative: Location: Production Items:
Donggun Park, CEO
Tangjeong, Chung Cheong Nam-Do, South Korea 7th and 8th generation Amorphous TFT LCD
*Note: The final amount of such payment will be determined based on S-LCD's financial statements as of the end of December 2011.

Source: Sony Press Release

7 Dec, 2011
By: Erik Gruenwedel

Hollywood’s marketing of 3D Blu-ray Disc movies won’t be enough to drive wider consumer adoption of 3D in the home, the head of Sony Pictures said.

Speaking Dec. 7 in an investor call with William Blair & Co.in Chicago, Michael Lynton, CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, said in-home adoption of 3D has been stymied by a dearth of compelling content beyond movies.

Lynton said greater availability of sports programming andvideo games in 3D would help jumpstart the format among consumers.

Indeed, with many games already available in 3D and early attempts to broadcast college football — in addition to the 2010 Beijing Olympics and The Masters — well-received, the belief is that expanded sports coverage could help 3D clear remaining hurdles into the home.

“It’s going to be based on what people want to watch,” Lynton said. “I don’t think that [3D] movies are going to drive [in-home adoption.]”

The CEO said consumers want to watch 3D movies in the home, but he believes that sports and video gaming will be more of a “pull” for consumers compared with movies. Adoption would be driven by "sports, nature programming like what Discovery is doing, and gaming," he said.

Sony, IMAX and Discovery Channel are partners in 3Dnet, the 3DTV channel carried by DirecTV and other multichannel video programing distributors.

“I think gaming will be a major driver,” Lynton said.

Sony is releasing seven theatrical movies in 3D in 2012, including reboots of the “Spider-Man” and “Men in Black” franchises. At the same time, domestic 3D viewership on new releases ranges from 40% to 60%, which is down from previous years, according to William Blair.

Meanwhile, international 3D theatrical attendance is up 60%, due in part to the novelty of the format.

“Part of the reason is that [3D movies] are newer [abroad] and you are continuing to see digital screens roll out more aggressively because there are fewer of them,” Lynton said, adding that Sony would only release titles in 3D if the format enhanced the quality of the movie.

Source: Home Media Magazine

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 12/6/2011


Wayne, N.J. - Two new JVC Americas Procision 3D-enabled D-ILA home theater projectors that present 2D images in up to 4K resolution are now shipping to dealers along with a 3D 1080p model, the company said Tuesday.

Similar Reference Series versions offered through JVC's Professional systems group are also available now, the company said.

All models include three 0.7-inch 1,920 by 1,080 native D-ILA imaging chips.

The projectors were introduced by JVC America at September's CEDIA Expo. The top two models in the consumer home-theater lineup feature the company's e-Shift up-conversion technology to display 2D HD content at four times the resolution of FullHD material.

These models include a new lens memory function with three settings for storing custom focus, zoom and lens shift position.

The Procision series models include the DLA-X90R ($11,999 suggested retail) offering a 120,000:1 native contrast ratio and the DLA-X70R ($7,995) offering an 80,000:1 native contrast. Both are THX certified.

Using the e-Shift technology, 2D HD content is up-converted and scaled to a 4K signal (3,840 by 2,160), and the e-Shift technology displays it at full 4K precision, JVC said.

In the two top models a combined 16-step lens and lamp aperture adjustment allow the user to optimize the f-number (relative aperture) of the optics system in all steps.

JVC is including two pairs of active-shutter 3D glasses and three-year warranties with the top-of-the-line 4K projectors.

Rounding out the trio is the DLA-X30 ($3,499), which will also present 3D images but omits the e-Shift system. It offers a 50,000:1 native contrast ratio and comes with a two-year warranty.

Source: TWICE

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 12/7/2011


El Segundo, Calif. - TiVo officially announced Tuesday that its long-awaited return with a TiVo DVR for DirecTV subscribers will begin to roll out in select markets Dec. 8.

TiVo will begin offering its service and interface to select DirecTV subscribers in leading markets, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago, New York, Denver, San Francisco, Sacramento, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington.

TheTiVo HD DVR from DirecTV will be made widely available to all DirecTV customers nationwide beginning in early 2012, according to a TiVo statement.

"We are excited to bring the TiVo product DirecTV customers know, love, and want to get their hands on again," TiVo said in an official statement announcing the release this week. "The TiVo HD DVR from DirecTV will incorporate TiVo's Classic User Interface, including its signature Swivel Search, TiVo Suggestions, WishList Recordings and Season Pass features, which help users find and schedule recordings of the programming they want, when they want it."

TheTiVo HD DVR (model THR22) for DirecTV will carry a $199 retail price and subscribers will have to pay an additional $12 per month for DVR service - this is comprised of a $7 per month charge for the DirecTV DVR service fee and a $5 per month fee for TiVo's user interface and recording options.

DirecTV's first DVRs produced in 1999 used the TiVo platform, but after DirecTV was acquired by News Corp., the satellite TV provider opted to shift its DVR allegiance to another News Corp.-owned technology developer, NDS, which also made the conditional access security for the DirecTV platform.

TiVo DVRs were phased out over five years after that, leaving many DirecTV and TiVo loyalists disappointed.

After News Corp. sold off its holdings in DirecTV, the company announced in 2008 that it was re-opening the gates to a TiVo DirecTV DVR in 2009, but the launch was postponed three times, before its final release this week.

While the newTiVo DirecTV DVR does feature the company's familiar, "Classic" user-friendly guide, menu system and search functions, it will not offer the newer TiVo Premiere User Interface that combines DirecTV programming with content available through third party online services.

A spec sheet indicates it also does not offer support for 3D, TV apps orDirecTV's whole-home DVR service capability. It will support up to 1080p HD resolution, however.

It will, however, store up to 100 hours of HD programming or up to 400 hours of SD programming at a time.

El Segundo, Calif. -TiVo officially announced Tuesday that its long-awaited return with a TiVo DVR for DirecTV subscribers will begin to roll out in select markets Dec. 8.

TiVo will begin offering its service and interface to select DirecTV subscribers in leading markets, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago, New York, Denver, San Francisco, Sacramento, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington.

TheTiVo HD DVR from DirecTV will be made widely available to all DirecTV customers nationwide beginning in early 2012, according to a TiVo statement.

"We are excited to bring theTiVo product DirecTV customers know, love, and want to get their hands on again," TiVo said in an official statement announcing the release this week. "The TiVo HD DVR from DirecTV will incorporate TiVo's Classic User Interface, including its signature Swivel Search, TiVo Suggestions, WishList Recordings and Season Pass features, which help users find and schedule recordings of the programming they want, when they want it."

TheTiVo HD DVR (model THR22) for DirecTV will carry a $199 retail price and subscribers will have to pay an additional $12 per month for DVR service - this is comprised of a $7 per month charge for the DirecTV DVR service fee and a $5 per month fee for TiVo's user interface and recording options.

DirecTV's first DVRs produced in 1999 used the TiVo platform, but after DirecTV was acquired by News Corp., the satellite TV provider opted to shift its DVR allegiance to another News Corp.-owned technology developer, NDS, which also made the conditional access security for the DirecTV platform.

TiVo DVRs were phased out over five years after that, leaving many DirecTV and TiVo loyalists disappointed.

After News Corp. sold off its holdings in DirecTV, the company announced in 2008 that it was re-opening the gates to a TiVo DirecTV DVR in 2009, but the launch was postponed three times, before its final release this week.

While the newTiVo DirecTV DVR does feature the company's familiar, "Classic" user-friendly guide, menu system and search functions, it will not offer the newer TiVo Premiere User Interface that combines DirecTV programming with content available through third party online services.

A spec sheet indicates it also does not offer support for 3D, TV apps orDirecTV's whole-home DVR service capability. It will support up to 1080p HD resolution, however.

It will, however, store up to 100 hours of HD programming or up to 400 hours of SD programming at a time.

Source: TWICE

Sony is planning a type of TV set which is going to be very different from its current offerings, apparently.

How so? Well CEO Howard Stringer didn’t make that clear when he talked to the Wall Street Journal over breakfast, but he did say that TV manufacturers were currently engaged in a cut-throat market.

And that new TV technology was something whichSony had in the pipeline to differentiate itself from the current all too similar range of offerings across the board.

Stringer said: “There’s a tremendous amount of R&D going into a different kind of TV set”, refusing to get drawn into any discussion on exactly what that may be.

Although he did give a hint when he gave a nod to Apple and the late Steve Jobs, who was determined to find a way to revolutionise TV viewing.

“That’s what we’re all looking for,” he added. “We can’t continue selling TV sets [the way we have been]. Every TV set we all make loses money.”

Which is why Sony has been in such a hole regarding its profits of late, or the major reason, due to the need to cut prices or risk cheaper priced rivals driving down its TV sales.

The mention of Apple is interesting, as some sources such as the Register have speculated that perhaps the Cupertino company is looking at some sort of voice controlled television using Siri developed tech.

PerhapsSony has a similar idea in mind, although a voice controlled EPG and recording system could prove a handful to implement successfully.

What Stringer clearly wants to do is unify Sony’s consumer tech, from the PlayStation through its new tablets, laptops, smartphones (now Ericsson is to be bought out) and TVs to make an overall experience which encourages consumers to stick with the brand across all electronic devices.

Much like Microsoft is doing with Windows 8, tablets, smartphones and Xbox Live.

It’s a shame he couldn’t have dropped more of a hint about exactly what is in the R&D works regarding this specific new set, but we guess the fact that it’s now being talked about means an announcement isn’t that far off. Perhaps at CES in January?

SOURCE: TECHWATCH